MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The Life University women's volleyball team led Martin Methodist in nearly all statistical categories, and responded in the fourth and fifth set to earn the 3-2 home Mid-South Conference win Monday night.
 
NOTES
• Life U improved to 24-9 (8-5) on the year as Martin Methodist fell to 12-8 (7-7).
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS 
• Mary Zimmerman led the Running Eagles offensively with 15 kills and three block assists as she finished with a hitting percentage of .500. 
• Lena Pucnik added another double-double with 14 kills and 22 digs. Caitlyn Neal also finished in double figures with 13 kills.
• Marin Black added 32 digs with four service aces. Kennedy Neal picked up 23 assists and 12 digs as Brie Montgomery added 27 assists.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
• After tying the opening set at eight, Life U exploded on a 12-2 run to lead 20-10 after a pair of service aces from K. Neal. Life U kept up the pressure as the Running Eagles took the first set 25-14.
• Life U continued the momentum in the second set with a 7-1 lead early on. A 5-0 run from Martin Methodist ended the early led as the Redhawks led 13-12. Life U responded to take the lead 19-17 after a kill from Louis, however Martin Methodist finished out the set on top 25-23.
• Martin Methodist jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the third set. Life U used a quick 3-0 run to cut the lead to three, 13-10, but the Redhawks answered with a 5-1 run to extend the lead to seven, 18-11. Life U managed to battle back again late in the set with kills from Zimmerman and C. Neal to trail 22-19. Martin Methodist finished the set ahead 25-20 to go up two games to one.
• Martin Methodist looked poised to take the match as they led 13-9 halfway through set four. Life U used an 8-1 run to lead by three, 17-14 with the kill from Mollick. Trailing 22-18, Martin Methodist used a 5-0 run to lead 23-22. A Kill from Furness and block from Furness and Louis gave the Running Eagles set point 24-23. Life U forced a fifth set with the final kill from Zimmerman to win 27-25.
• Martin Methodist again led early in the fifth set with a 5-1 lead early on. Life U clawed its way back to tie the set at seven, before a 3-0 run put the Redhawks ahead 10-7. Trailing 11-9, a 3-0 burst that included a pair of aces from Keener gave the Running Eagles the 12-11 advantage. Life U finished the match on a 3-1 run as Zimmerman provided the final kill to seal the win, 15-13.
  
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Life U led Martin Methodist in nearly every statistical category as the Running Eagles finished with 60 kills to the 56 from the Redhawks. Life U finished with a hitting percentage of .157 as Martin Methodist finished .160.
• Life U led Martin Methodist 8-6 in blocks and 16-5 in service aces.
• Life U edged Martin Methodist in assists 55-49, and 99-96 in digs.


UP NEXT
• The women's volleyball team will return to action on Thursday, April 1, when they continue MSC play and travel to face the University of the Cumberlands at 7 PM.