MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University women's volleyball team opened the 2023 campaign on the road in a road tournament at Keiser Friday, dropping a pair of matches. The Running Eagles fell in straight sets to both opponents #13 Dakota Wesleyan and Sienna Heights to open the year. 

Match 1: Dakota Wesleyan 3, Life U 0

The Running Eagles held tough against the highly ranked Tigers in the 2023 opener but the Blue came out on top 3-0. Life University dropped sets 25-17, 25-20, 25-19. 

The Running Eagles tallied the same number of kills as Dakota Wesleyan in the match but committed more errors than the Tigers. Chloe Teter picked up where she left off as the junior led Life U with seven kills, tying a team-high in the match. 

Freshman Victoria Davenport began her career for Life University matching the team-high with seven kills, an ace, and a single block. Fayola Louis led the way in digs with eight.

Match 2: Siena Heights 3, Life U 0

Against RV Siena Heights, Life University held tough in the first two sets before succumbing to the Saints. Siena Heights took the match 25-20, 25-20, 25-23. 

Life U had 28 kills to Siena Heights' 37 in the match led by Louis with eight followed by Chloe Teter with seven. Naomi Eckert Rivera accounted for 21 assists, all but four of Life University's assists in the match. 

Up next, the Running Eagles return to action Saturday in West Palm facing Missouri Baptist and Keiser.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

--The two opponents Life U faced Friday each appeared in the NAIA Women's Volleyball preseason coaches' Top 25 poll, with Dakota Wesleyan ranked 13th and Siena Heights receiving votes.