WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. ---- The Life University women's volleyball team finished the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Volleyball Classic a perfect 4-0 to kick off the 2021 season after consecutive wins over Life Pacific and Goshen College Saturday afternoon.

The Running Eagles started the day with a 3-0 sweep over Life Pacific in the 10 AM matchup. Life U finished the match 25-15, 25-21 and 25-15 to move to 3-0 on the year.

Life U led in every statistical category except for blocks, however the Running Eagles erased this deficit with an 8-0 advantage in service aces throughout the match. Life U totaled 42 kills in the three sets with a .283 hitting percentage as a team. 

Individually, Lena Pucnik had her best match of the tournament with a double-double on 13 kills and 11 digs with a pair of service aces. Fayola Louis continued her great start to the year with 13 kills and a .522 hitting percentage. Jessie Prichard added 35 assists to her totals with a block assist as Marin Black led the defensive effort with 17 digs. 

In the second match of the afternoon, Life U took down Goshen in four sets 3-1. The Running Eagles took the opening two sets 25-22 and 25-15 before falling 25-23 in the third. The women rallied in the fourth set to win 25-20 for a 4-0 start to the year. 

Goshen controlled the nets with an 8-4 advantage in blocks over Life U, however the Running Eagles were dominant from behind the service line with 15 team service aces during the match. They also totaled 55 kills with a .204 hitting percentage. 

Freshman Emilee Brown led the offensive effort for the Running Eagles with 12 kills, three service aces and a .579 hitting percentage. Madison Evans totaled nine kills as 16 Running Eagles recorded a kill on the weekend. Brie Montgomery added 33 assists with Savannah Keener totaling 25 digs and four service aces. Kennedy Neal also added 17 assists with four service aces in the match. 

The women's volleyball team will take a break from the court as they will return to action on Friday, August 27, at 3 PM when they host Columbia International University in the Running Eagle Classic in the Eagles' Nest. The tournament hosted on campus will last both Friday and Saturday as later Friday evening Life U will host Ave Maria University at 7 PM in the Eagles' Nest as well.