ATHERTON, Calif. ---- The Life University men's volleyball team started the 2020 season over the weekend at the Menlo Oak Invite hosted by Menlo College, where the Running Eagles finished the weekend 2-2.

The Running Eagles started the tournament and season against Siena Heights, where the saints quickly took a two game advantage. Life U rallied in the third set to take a 25-20 win with the final kill coming from Felipe Gonzalez. In set four, Life U trailed 12-7, before a 9-1 run gave the Running Eagles the lead to earn the 25-21 win to force a fifth set as Alex Gonzalez tallied the kill. During the fifth set, the Running Eagles fended off three match points to earn the 21-19 win as A. Gonzalez tallied the final kill. A. Gonzalez finished with 24 kills and 11 digs as Obrador tallied 18 kills with 11 digs as well. Allain Larroche finished with 42 assists. Javier De Leon tallied 14 digs in the win as well. 

Life U then matched up with No. 7 Menlo, where the Running Eagles fell 3-0. The set scores finished as 25-13, 25-19 and 25-22. F. Gonzalez led the way with 13 kills offensively as Javier Cornier tallied 21 assists. 

The men's volleyball team bounced back with a 3-0 victory the next day of the tournament over UC Merced. The Running Eagles won 25-23, 29-27 and 26-24 as each set was highly contested. Life U led 24-22 in set one before the Bobcats rattled off two straight points. Sebastian Obrador recorded the final kill to give Life U the win. Facing set point in set two down 24-23, Life U finished the set on a 6-3 run to earn the 29-27 win. The Bobcats also earned set point in the third set ahead 24-23, but the Running Eagles finished the match on a 3-0 run with an attack error giving Life U its second win of the season. A. Gonzalez (11), Diego Perez (12) and Obrador (13) led the team offensively as Larroche tallied 38 assists. 

In the final match of the tournament, Life U fell to Hope International three sets to one. The Running Eagles earned a 25-21 win in set one, but fell 25-18, 25-19 and 25-20. In the first set, Hope International tied the game at 20, before the Running Eagles finished the set on a 5-1 run. During the match, F. Gonzalez tallied 20 kills with A. Gonzalez adding 11. Larroche picked up 44 assists. 

The Running Eagles will return to action on Saturday, February 1, as they travel to Campbellsville, Kentucky for a pair of matches. The men's volleyball team will face hosts No. 2 Campbellsville at 11 AM and Goshen College at 3 PM.