MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The 13th-ranked Life University men's volleyball team held on to win in five sets over the visiting Warner University Royals Saturday afternoon in the Eagles' Nest.
 
NOTES
• Life U improved to 7-0 (4-0) on the year with the win, while Warner falls to 0-2 (0-2).
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS 
• Ryan Ollie led all players with 15 kills on a solid .286 kill percentage, while also taking part in two solo blocks and two block assists. Nevin Johnson was the only other Life U player to reach double-digit scoring, posting 10 kills.
• Alex Cabana did a little bit of everything for his squad, earning seven kills, four service aces, and seven block assists.
• Javier Cornier tallied 42 assists and three kills on the night to go with his six block assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
• Life U ran away with the first set, a couple of runs helping the team to create and maintain its advantage. The Running Eagles took eight straight volleys through the early portion of the set, Cabana starting and ending things with aces as the team stood at an 11-2 lead. A six point run shortly after, again instigated by Cabana, saw the team go up 20-9. Johnson ended the set, 25-15, with a kill set up by Cornier.
• Things were much closer in the second set, the teams exchanging points through almost the entire set, neither team creating separation. A Johnson kill was the last in a 4-0 Life U run as the team pushed ahead for a 12-9 lead. Warner knotted things back up as the team's continued trading leads until an Ollie kill saw the set end 25-23. 
• The third and fourth sets both went Warner's way, as they inched Life U out 25-22 in the third set and then made even more space as they tied the match up at two all after a 25-17 win in the fourth set.
• Warner opened the fifth and final set up, taking a quick 5-3 lead. A 3-0 Life U run gave the team the lead in the set, and the team managed to hold off the Royals the rest of the way, taking an 11-8 lead after Cabana and Cornier combined on back-to-back blocks.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Life U had a clear advantage in kills, leading Webber International 46-29 with the kills coming on a .267 percentage compared to the Warriors' .156. 
• Life U possessed the edge in the majority of the remaining stats, leading 3-2 in aces, 38-25 in assists, and 44-30 in digs. The team tied at eight each in blocks.
• The Running Eagles committed more attacking errors, earning 19 to Webber International's 15. Ollie finally put an end to the match with a strong kill, winning the set 15-13 and match 3-2. 
 
UP NEXT
• The men's volleyball team stays at home for a home pod next weekend, starting things Friday, February 26 at 2 PM against conference foe, Georgetown College in the Eagles' Nest.