MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Life University women's volleyball team's SSAC postseason run began Thursday as they faced off against William Carey University and Faulkner University in their first two matches of pool play. Against tough competition, the Running Eagles were unable to secure a win, falling in straight sets to William Carey before losing a hard-fought five-set match to Faulkner.
Match 1: WCU 3, Life U 0
In the first match of the day, the Running Eagles fell to the Crusaders in three sets (9-25, 11-25, 19-25). From the start, the Running Eagles failed to keep up with the strong and efficient William Carey attack.
The first set saw the Running Eagles struggle to find its rhythm as William Carey came out with an aggressive attack. The Running Eagles fell behind early and were unable find their footing, dropping the first set 25-9.
In the second set, the Running Eagles continued to struggle as William Carey's consistent serving and balanced offense kept Life U scrambling to keep up. WCU claimed the second set with a dominant 25-11 score.
In the third set, the Running Eagles finally found their attack, battling with renewed energy and making an effort to extend the match. Irby and Washington led the charge with critical kills, and Rivera continued to set up plays. Life U reached 19 points, their highest of the match, but William Carey's momentum and execution was too much to overcome as they closed out the set 25-19, securing the match.
Overall, Life University finished the match with 27 kills. Rivera recorded 14 assists and 7 digs, while Washington and the back row combined for 32 digs defensively.
Match 2: Faulkner 3, Life U 2
In the second match of the day, the Running Eagles battled through a fierce fight before ultimately falling to Faulkner University in a thrilling five-set match at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.
In the back-and-forth affair, both teams pushed one another to the limit as each team claimed two sets before Life U fell in the in the decisive fifth set 15-6. The Running Eagles started strong, taking the first set 25-15 as Imana Ellis and Gabriela Rivera connected on multiple attacks to fuel the offense. The Running Eagles seized early momentum to secure the opening set.
The momentum quickly shifted after the first set though, as Faulkner regrouped in the second and third sets, narrowly capturing them 25-23 and 25-19, respectively. Life rallied back in the fourth set, taking it 25-21 and setting the stage for an intense fifth set. In the final set, Faulkner's attack surged as Life U failed to keep pace, falling 15-6. Despite the loss, several Running Eagles players posted strong individual performances. Ellis led with 15 kills and six blocks, while Rivera recorded 43 assists and 12 digs. Fries added a team-high 18 digs.
Up next, the Running Eagles continue their SSAC Pool play run with a match against Blue Mountain at 12 pm est.
