Score: Cumberland 3, Life 0
Records: Life (0-1), Cumberland (1-0);
MARIETTA, Ga. – The Life University men's volleyball team opened their season with a hard-fought match against Cumberland University on Thursday evening but ultimately fell 3-0. Despite the final scoreline, the Running Eagles showcased determination and flashes of strong play, especially in a thrilling third set that went down to the wire. The match ended with set scores of 25-13, 25-20, and 27-25.
Life U struggled to find their footing in the first set, committing five attack errors while managing four kills. The Running Eagles faced an efficient Cumberland offense and fell behind early, eventually losing the set 25-13.
The second set brought improvement for Life U, as they recorded 11 kills and cut down on errors. Early in the set, the teams traded points with the score tied at 10-10, thanks to kills from Ethan Bustos and Jakub Kantorowicz. However, a strong surge by Cumberland in the latter stages put the Phoenix ahead to claim the set 25-20.
In the third set, Life U showed resilience and pushed Cumberland to their limits. The Running Eagles found their rhythm offensively with 13 kills and tightened up their defense at the net, highlighted by key blocks from Charles Ewer and Vincent Eisinga. Trailing 24-21 late in the set, Life U rallied with a 3-0 run to tie the score at 24-24. Despite their valiant effort, Cumberland capitalized on errors and closed the set 27-25 to seal the match.
TURNING POINT:
Life U's rally in the third set showed their potential, but untimely errors allowed Cumberland to capitalize and secure the straight-sets victory.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Life U: Jakub Kantorowicz led the team with nine kills and 10 total points, while Carlos Stadtlober contributed 20 assists and four digs. Charles Ewer added three blocks and six points.
- Cumberland: Joao Infante dominated with 17 kills and a .536 hitting percentage, and Sam Mannebach dished out 28 assists with five digs.
UP NEXT:
The Running Eagles will look to bounce back tomorrow when they travel to face Rio Grande, on the campus of Reinhardt University, at 1:30 p.m.
