NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Life U 1, St. Andrews 3
Match 2 Score: Life U 3, Edward Waters 0
Records: Life U, 14-7; St. Andrews, 18-8; Edward Waters, 6-11
LAURINBURG, NC. - The Life U men's volleyball team earned a split in North Carolina Saturday against Edward Waters and St. Andrews University. After a 3-0 winning streak, the Running Eagles unfortunately began the double header with a loss, losing 3-1 against St. Andrews. However, the Running Eagles came back and won the second game 3-0 to Edward Waters to close out the day 1-1.
Match 1: Life U 1, St. Andrews 3
In a match up that was hard fought throughout, St. Andrews prevailed with a furious fourth-set rally to overtake the Running Eagles.
The first set was close in the early going, with Life U taking the lead early and keep it steady throughout the first set. The Running Eagles were able to make a big separation and took off from a 18-15 lead to end the first set 25-19. In the second set both teams were once again close but Life U were never able to take the lead, ending the second set 25-23 to St. Andrews.
Going into the third set each team had one win each. The third set was also close early on, but with a 4-0 run and later on a 6-1 run for St. Andrews, Life U were unable to recover with St. Andrews taking the third set 25-15.
The fourth was similar to the other three sets where the teams kept battling back and forth with Life taking the lead to start with. The Eagle's fell behind but were able to recover until the Knight's went on 8-1 run which the Eagle's couldn't come back from.
Jose Llaneza had an outstanding start to the day, leading the squad with 12 kills while also adding three blocks. Xavier Jones also led the team with 12 kills and added another six digs. Alexis Prado started out hot too with 16 digs and three assists. However, setter Carlos Pinto topped the team with 27 assists.
Match 2: Life U 3, Edward Waters 0
The Running Eagles dominated the Tigers from the early going and never looked back in a three-set victory to start the day. Life U held Edward Waters behind in dominant 27-25 fashion before taking control in the second and third sets as well on the way to their fourteenth victory of the season. The Running Eagle's started off the second set with falling behind but the turn point came when the Eagle's went on a 10-1 run before ending the second set 25-16.
The third set was similar to the first set, but the Eagle's kept fighting hard and added 12 kills for the set. Life U took home the last set 25-21 to end the game with a 3-0 win.
Tavion Ford led the team with 11 kills while also adding five digs and Richard Hendricks added seven kills. Kenyon Haynes led the team with 19 assists while also adding 4 blocks.
Up next, the Running Eagles will host Warner University (Fla.) in an AAC game, taking on the Royals this Friday, March 22nd at 4 p.m.
