BOWLING GREEN, Ky. ---- The No. 10 nationally ranked Life University women's volleyball team defeated Cumberland University 3-2 Friday night, to advance to the program's first Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship on Saturday.
With the win, the Running Eagles stand at 32-1 on the year and have won the last 24 games. It was a back-and-forth start with no team leading by more than one in the first 14 points as the set was tied 7-7. The Running Eagles went on to score eight of the set's next 11 points to lead 15-10. Trailing in the set 16-13, Cumberland would go on a 7-4 run to tie the set 20-20. The two teams traded points for the remainder of the set as the Phoenix would take the opening set 27-25.
Trailing in the second set 3-2, Cumberland went on a 5-2 run to lead 8-4. Life responded by scoring five of the set's next six points to tie it 9-9. The set continued to be back-and-forth as it was tied 14-14. Life took a 15-14 lead before Cumberland scored the next five points to lead 19-15. The Running Eagles responded scoring 10 of the set's final 12 points to win the set 25-21 and tie the match 1-1.
Life got off to a quick start in the third set scoring the first three points. Cumberland then went on 12-1 run to lead 12-4. The Running Eagles answered right back scoring five of the next six points to trim the Phoenix lead to 13-9. Life trailed in the set 18-13 before scoring the next three to trail 18-16. Trailing 23-19, the Running Eagles tied the match scoring the next four points. The two teams continued to trade points until the Phoenix were able to come away with the 31-29 victory.
Cumberland opened up the fourth set scoring eight of the first 10 points. Life then scored the next six points to tie the set 8-8. With the set tied at 15, Cumberland scored the next three points to lead 18-15. The Running Eagles forced the fifth set by scoring 10 of the last 11 points to win 25-19.
Leading 4-3, the Running Eagles took control in the fifth set by scoring six of the next eight points to lead 10-5. The two teams traded points as Life clinched the victory winning the set 15-11. It was also the first five-set match for the Running Eagles this season.
Cumberland led the defensive stats with 17 blocks and 100 digs, as Life U totaled 12 blocks and 98 digs. The Running Eagles finished with 63 kills and a .148 hitting percentage as the Phoenix finished with 56 kills and a .100 hitting percentage. Life U led 12-9 in service aces and 62-55 in assists.
Individually,
Lena Pucnik finished with 24 kills, 20 digs, and four block assists.
Fayola Louis added 17 kills with three block assists and a pair of digs.
Mary Zimmerman had a .304 hitting percentage with 10 kills and five block assists.
Caitlyn Neal picked up eight kills with a solo block and two block assists.
Jessie Prichard earned the double-double with 58 assists and 11 digs with a team-high four service aces.
Marin Black added a match-high 32 digs with three service aces as
Savannah Keener added 17 digs.
Kennedy Neal also finished with three service aces and eight digs.
The women's volleyball team will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 13, when they face No. 23 Lindsey Wilson College in the MSC Tournament Championship at 6 PM EST in Bowling Green.
