WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. ---- The Life University women's volleyball team got off to a hot start to open the 2021 season with a pair of victories in the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Volleyball Classic.

The Running Eagles opened up the day against No. 22 nationally ranked Madonna University, where the Running Eagles took care of the Crusaders in three straight sets. In convincing fashion, Life U won the sets 25-22, 25-17 and 25-12.

They led in every statistical category including a 5-0 advantage in service aces. Life U finished with a hitting percentage of .304 in the season opener with 46 kills and just 15 errors. The upset marked the highest ranked opponent in program history of a three-set sweep.

Individually, Caitlyn Neal led the Running Eagles with 10 kills as Fayola Louis finished with nine and a hitting percentage of .400 with two block assists and a service ace. Lena Pucnik added seven kills with eight digs as Mary Zimmerman totaled six kills and three solo blocks. Newcomer Jessie Prichard picked up 35 assists and a block assist with five digs as Marin Black totaled nine digs and a service ace.

Using the momentum from the first match, the Running Eagles rolled to another three-set sweep over MidAmerica Nazarene in the final match of the day. Life U took the sets 25-14, 25-19 and 25-23. 

Life U led in all statistical categories except for blocks wither the Pioneers held an 8-7 advantage. Life U totaled 43 total kills to the 23 from MidAmerica Nazarenece as both teams finished with 20 attack errors. 

No Running Eagles finished in double figures offensively, however Prichard continued her stellar day with a double-double on 30 assists and 13 digs. Pucnik tallied nine kills as Louis again added eight with six block assists. Zimmerman held the line defensively with six block assists as well and five kills. Black totaled 18 digs in the second match.

The women's volleyball team will conclude action in the tournament on Saturday, August 14, as they play back-to-back in the morning on court two. The team will face Life Pacific at 10 AM and Goshen College immediately after on the same court.