MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Life University women's volleyball team continued its strong run of form Friday evening, collecting its second straight win with a 3–1 victory (25–22, 16–25, 25–15, 25–19) over Faulkner University in Southern States Athletic Conference play. The result pushed the Running Eagles to 10–7 overall on the year.
The Running Eagles set the tone early in the opening frame, converting on key points down the stretch to take the set 25–22. In the first set, Life U finished with nine kills and two service aces while taking advantage of six Faulkner errors. Paola Vega and Jade Watson led the early attack while Gabriela Rivera directed the offense to overcome a late three-point deficit.
Faulkner leveled the match in set two, capitalizing on Life U's miscues to claim a 25–16 decision. The Running Eagles then quickly responded with their best frame of the evening, dominating the third set, hitting .480 with 13 kills to just one error. Vega, Watson, and Esosa Ehigiator fueled the surge, while Rivera and Fabiana Cruz combined for 14 assists to pace an offense that closed the set on a decisive 7–1 run to win 25–15.
The momentum carried into the fourth, where Life U maintained steady pressure at the net and from the service line. The Running Eagles posted 15 kills on .214 hitting while limiting errors and controlling the tempo defensively. Vega remained sharp on the outside, Cruz and Rivera continued to distribute effectively, and Reign Jarin anchored the back row with timely digs as Life U finished off the match 25–19 to secure its 10th win of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Life U recorded 47 kills on .246 hitting, while holding Faulkner to .204.
- The Running Eagles totaled five service aces, 54 digs, and eight team blocks.
- Life U hit above .300 in both the third and fourth sets.
- Vega led all hitters with 12 kills, while Rivera and Cruz combined for 42 assists.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
- Paola Vega: 12 kills (.360), three digs, one block
- Jade Watson: Nine kills (.471), one dig, two block assists
- Esosa Ehigiator: Eight kills (.400), two blocks, one assist
- Gabriela Rivera: 20 assists, two aces, eight digs
- Fabiana Cruz: 22 assists, 10 digs
- Reign Jarin: 16 digs, two aces
- Sydney Gonzales: Four kills (.500), three block assists
