MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The (RV) Life University women's volleyball team earned a pair of sweeps against teams who were also receiving votes in the first edition of the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll Friday to kick off the Running Eagles Classic.

The Running Eagles improved to 6-0 on the year with a pair of 3-0 victories over (RV) Columbia International University and (RV) Ave Maria. Life U set a program benchmark with 22 service aces, 10 against CIU and 12 against Ave Maria, as newcomer Liliann Cox picked up eight in the win over the Gyrenes in the nightcap. The Running Eagles dominated the stats sheet with 83 kills in both matches as their opponents only managed 59. They also out-blocked their opponents 15-11.

In the first match of the day, The Running Eagles swept the Rams from CIU in consecutive sets 25-14, 25-18 and 25-23. They led the Rams in every statistical category included 40-26 in kills, 10-3 in aces, 10-5 in blocks, 37-25 in assists and 52-49 in digs. Life U finished with a hitting percentage of .224 as they limited CIU to a .038.

Individually, Madison Evans led the way for Life U with a double-double on 11 kills and 10 digs with a pair of service aces and a .321 hitting percentage. Mary Zimmerman also finished in double figures with 10 kills and five block assists with a solo block and a .438 hitting percentage. Marin Black totaled 17 digs and four service aces as Brie Montgomery (16) and Kennedy Neal (17) led the Running Eagles in assists. Kourtney Bilyeu added six kills with five block assists and a solo block as well. 

Life U faced (RV) Ave Maria in the nightcap of day one, and walked away with a three-set sweep, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-20. The Running Eagles held an advantage in every statistical category except blocks over the Gyrenes leading 43-33 in kills, 12-4 in aces, 40-30 in assists and 68-60 in digs. 

Cox provided the spark from behind the service line with eight service aces as Carolin Santa Cancel lit up the offensive charts with 13 kills and a .423 hitting percentage. Caitlyn Neal narrowly missed double figures with nine kills as Black stepped in with 34 digs and a service aces to add to her totals. Montgomery and K. Neal each picked up 17 assists as Savannah Keener added a stellar 13 dig performance. Bilyeu again helped at the net with three block assists as Emilee Brown totaled four kills and a pair of block assists with a solo block.

The women's volleyball team will wrap up the Running Eagle Classic Saturday, August 28, as they face Florida National University at 1 PM and Brenau University in the final game of the tournament at 7 PM.