NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Aquinas 0, Life U 3
Match 2 Score: Oakland City 3, Life U 1
Record: Aquinas, 1-1; Oakland City, 4-0; Life U 2-2
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The Life U men's volleyball team went 1-1 on the day, sweeping Aquinas in the morning before falling to Oakland City later in the afternoon. The Running Eagles jumped out in front during both matches but were unable to close the door on the Mighty Oaks.
Match 1: Aquinas 0, Life U 3
The Running Eagles got off to a hot start on the day, quickly handling the Saints in a 3-0 sweep. Aquinas posted a strong fight in the first set, battling to a 13-13 tie midway through. However, Life U strung together a solid run to close out the first set 25-20.
Much of the second set remained contested as the Running Eagles looked to pull away, stringing together a three-point run and forcing a timeout out of the Saints. The pause did little to stop the bleeding as Life U garnered its biggest lead of the set, 21-12, before closing out the set.
With all the momentum on its side, the Running Eagles once again jumped out in front in the third set and never looked back. The team trailed for just one point during the entire set. Life U was extremely efficient in the final set, finding a rhythm and posting a day-best .500 hitting percentage.
Freshman Vincent Eisinga led the squad with ten kills while posting a .643 hitting percentage. He also led the team with four blocks. Senior Carlos Pinto led the team with 25 assists in the contest while Alexis Prado posted a team-high eight digs.
Match 2: Oakland City 3, Life U 1
Life U once again jumped out to a lead, putting the Mighty Oaks behind 8-5 in the first set. However, Oakland City continued to battle, forcing its way back into the set and taking it down to the wire. At 19-19, Life U went on a crucial four-point run, led by kills from Jakub Kantorowicz and Charles Ewer to force a called timeout. The team went on to secure the first set 25-22 behind 11 kills and just 3 attack errors.
In set number two, the Running Eagles looked to overcome a 12-4 run by the opponents midway through the set that put them behind 18-10. While Life U fought hard to get back within reach but the deficit ultimately remained to much to overcome with the set finishing 25-20.
Both teams traded leads in the third set, with neither team holding greater than a four-point lead. Life U looked to have the set in its control, going on a 5-2 run late and taking a commanding 22-19 lead. However, the Mighty Oaks refused to go quietly, winning six of the next seven points to secure the set 25-23.
The final set of the match followed the script, once again being hotly contested. Leading late, kills from and Aiden Janowski and Kantorowicz put the Life U team in prime position to close out the set and force a deciding set. Once again, Oakland City refused to concede the set, rallying back from being down 24-21 to take a 25-24 lead. The Running Eagles battled into extra points but the Mighty Oaks secured the match winning set, 26-28.
Up next, Life U is right back in action in Rio Grande, taking on Siena Heights on Saturday, February 1.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
-- Jakub Kantorowicz posted a team-high 14 kills against against Oakland City.
-- Vincent Eisinga lead the team with nine blocks on the day.
-- Alexis Prado posted 27 digs across both contests.
