Life University Athletics

HENDERSON, Tenn. ---- Life University women's volleyball head coach Steve Wilcosky achieved 100 program wins for the Running Eagles Thursday night, as the team rallied back in the final three sets to win 3-2 over Freed-Hardeman in Mid-South Conference action.

NOTES
• Life U improved to 15-3 (2-1) on the year.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS 
• Lena Pucnik led the Running Eagles offensively and tallied a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs with two block assists and a service ace.
• Caitlyn Neal also finished in double figures with 12 kills and a pair of block assists.
• Fayola Louis totaled 10 kills and four block assists as Mary Zimmerman added 10 kills as well with two block assists. 
• Marin Black picked up a career-high 35 digs in the match with three service aces. Kennedy Neal tallied 33 assists and two block assists as Brie Montgomery picked up 18 assists. Savannah Keener aided defensively with 10 digs and three service aces as well. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
• Life U trailed nearly all of the first set, and found themselves down 21-16 late in the set. However, a 5-1 run cut the lead to one, 22-21, with the kill from Pucnik. The Lions finished the set on a 3-0 run to earn the 25-21 win.
• Life U again jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in set two, however Freed-Hardeman responded with a 12-2 run to take a commanding 12-5 lead. Life U strung together a late 4-1 run with a pair of errors from the Lions, but Freed-Hardeman held on in the set to earn the 25-19 win.
• An early 6-1 run was finished with the kill from Pucnik as Life U led 9-4 early in set three. Life U continued the pressure to lead 16-11 after Neal put down a kill. Freed-Hardeman finished off a 4-1 run in response to cut the lead to two, 17-15. The Running Eagles connected offensively as Pucnik totaled three kills in an 8-1 run to finish the set in favor of Life U, 25-16.
• Life U jumped out to its largest lead of the day in set four, starting the set on a 7-0 run. The Running Eagles continued the offensive pressure to lead 20-4 late in the set. Freed-Hardeman strung together a pair of runs, however Life U forced the fifth set with a 25-11 win as Neal provided the final kill.
• Life U led 4-1 early in set five, and a costly set error from Freed-Hardeman gave Life U the 9-5 advantage. Freed-Hardeman brought the set to within two, 12-10, but kills from Zimmerman and Neal along with an attacking error ended the match as the Running Eagles pulled off the comeback 15-10.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Life U led Freed-Hardeman in kills 58-54. Life U finished with a hitting percentage of .272 as Freed-Hardeman finished with a .219.
• Life U led Freed-Hardeman 55-53 in assists and 68-64 in digs.
• Life U also edged Freed-Hardeman in aces 12-9 and blocks 16-6.
 
UP NEXT
• The women's volleyball team will return to action on Saturday, February 27, when they travel to McKenzie, Tenn. and continue Mid-South Conference play against Bethel University at 2 PM.