BRUNSWICK, Ga. ---- The Life University women's volleyball team fell in its first two matches of the 2018 season at the Mariner Invitational on the campus of Coastal Georgia. The Running Eagles fell 3-0 to Saint Francis (Ind.) before falling in five sets to Faulkner 3-2. 
 
NOTES
• The Eagles fell in three consecutive sets to Saint Francis 25-14, 25-17 and 25-20.
• In Game 2 against Faulkner, the Running Eagles fell behind 2-0 losing the first two sets 25-23 and 25-12. However, Life U responded to take the next two games 27-25 and 25-13 to force a game five, before eventually falling 16-14.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS 
• Amber Harris finished the day with 42 assists and tallied 31 in game two against Faulkner.
• Chelsea Hill picked up 26 kills during both matches with 19 against Faulkner.
• Marin Black also finished in double digits for kills with 19 on the day, and had 11 digs in the first game of the day.
• Defensively, Hill and Mary Zimmerman picked up four block assists in both games. Gaby Ferran led the way with 20 total digs on the day.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
• Early in game one, Life U trailed Saint Francis by four, 11-7, however took game one 25-14.
• Life U jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in set two. Saint Francis responded to tie the game at nine. Both teams battled point for point, with a kill from Montgomery gave the Running Eagles a 12-12 tie. 
• Saint Francis finished the set on a 13-5 run to go up 2-0 in the match.
• The third set seemed to have Saint Francis in control up 17-10, however a late run from Life U brought the game to within one, 20-19, at the end of a 6-1 run.
• Saint Francis scored four consecutive points, before taking the third set 25-20 for the 3-0 match victory over Life U.
• Life U cut the lead to two, 13-11, early in set one against Faulkner. The Eagles went on a 6-2 run to lead 19-13. Down 22-18, the Running Eagles scored four straight to tie the game at 22, however Faulkner pulled out the victory 25-23.
• Faulkner controlled set two for a 25-12 victory.
• Early in set three, Faulkner led Life U 9-3. Trailing by six, 18-12, the Running Eagles scored five consecutive points to bring the game to within one.  
• Faulkner again jumped ahead 22-20, however a pair of kills from Black and one from Hill gave Life U the late 23-22 lead. Life U trailed 25-24 and were one point away from losing the second match of the day until a crucial timeout was called for the Running Eagles. Three consecutive points for Life U were scored with Ferran sealing the 27-25 Life U victory in set three. 
• Life U led the entire fourth set and earned the 25-13 victory over Faulkner to force a fifth and final set.
• Faulkner led 14-11 and looked to win the match in the final set, however three straight points tied the game with a pair of kills from Hill. 
• Faulkner rallied to score the final two points to take set five 16-14, and win the match 3-2 over Life U.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Life U had 27 kills to go with 26 assists in game one against Saint Francis.
• Life U finished game one with a .090 hitting percentage and Saint Francis finished with a .286 hitting percentage.
• Life U edged Faulkner in kills in game two, 58-54, and in assists 53-52.
• Faulkner finished with a .215 hitting percentage, while Life U posted a .196. Despite losing the match, Life U outscored Faulkner 70-67, and tallied seven aces 
 
UP NEXT 
• The Running Eagles will return to action on Saturday, August 18 when they finish play in the Mariner Invitational against Tennessee Wesleyan University at 11 a.m. and Warner University at 6 p.m.