NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Life U 3, Columbia College 0
Match 2 Score: Truett McConnell 3, Life U 1
Records: Life U, 13-9; Columbia College, 2-15; Truett McConnell, 10-11
MARIETTA, Ga. - The Life U women's volleyball team earned a split this weekend earning a clean sweep to Columbia College but fell in four sets to Truett McConnell.
The Running Eagles started hot Saturday afternoon, triumphing over the Koalas 3-0. However, the Running Eagles dropped a four-set heartbreaker to the Bears to close out the weekend 1-1.
Match 1: Life U 3, Columbia College 0
The Running Eagles dominated the Koalas from the early going and never looked back in a three-set victory to start the day.
Life U dominated Columbia in the first set winning by 13 points before taking control in the second and third sets as well on the way to their 13th win of the season.
The stats were one-sided in favor of the Running Eagles as well, as they held a 35-16 edge in total kills and delivered a .202 hitting percentage while holding the Koalas to a -.125 hitting percentage.
Erica Irby and Imana Ellis once again had an outstanding start to the day, both leading the squad with seven kills while Ellis led with four blocks and Irby added 12 digs. Freshman Gianna DeVarenne reached 19 digs, while setters Gabriela Rivera and Isabella Hanchi both topped 14 assists.
Match 2: Truett McConnell 3, Life U 1
In a match up that was hard fought throughout, Truett McConnell prevailed with a furious fourth-set rally to overtake the Running Eagles.
The first set was all the Running Eagles as they would go on a 9-1 run in the middle of the set to guarantee them a 25-16 win.
The Running Eagles were not able to keep the momentum as the Bears battled back to win the second set 25-14.
The third and fourth sets mirrored the second, with the Bears continuing their run and taking the third, 25-22 and the fourth was pushed to extra points but a last point by the Bears that was questionable by the referees ended up ending the game at 27-25.
Imana Ellis led Life U with a career-high of 18 kills. Erica Irby added ten kills and three aces, while Chloe Teter tallied nine kills.
Gianna DeVarenne led the squad with 28 digs, while Irby added 12. Gabriela Rivera led the Running Eagles with 24 assists and Isabella Hanchi led with 21. Defensively freshman Elisa Fries tallied three blocks.
Although the Running Eagles had more kills in the set, the Bears took advantage of 31 Life U errors while only making 13 of their own.
Up next, the Running Eagles will take a road trip to William Carey, taking on the Crusaders this Friday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Elisa totaled 25 digs over the two contests.
- DeVarenne led the team with 19 digs in the win over Columbia before delivering a career-high 28 digs against Truett McConnell.
