By: Nick Pope
Box Score Score: Life U 3, Midway 1
Records: Life U 6-9 (AAC, 0-6); Midway 1-7 (AAC, 0-4)
MARIETTA, Ga. – The Life University men's volleyball team bounced back with an impressive four-set victory over Midway (KY) on Monday evening. The Running Eagles started strong and closed out the match with a dominant final set, securing their first win in five matches.
Life U came out firing in the first set, hitting an outstanding .406 as Serano Keijl and Jakub Kantorowicz led the offensive charge. Setter Carlos Stadtlober kept the tempo high, dishing out assists to create scoring opportunities. The Running Eagles built an early lead and never looked back, closing the set 25-16.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Life U controlling the pace. Vincent Eisinga and Alexis Prado stepped up with strong defensive plays, while Stadtlober continued to find his hitters in rhythm. Life U claimed the set 25-15, moving to a commanding 2-0 lead.
Midway responded in the third, capitalizing on unforced errors by the Running Eagles. Despite a strong showing from Keijl and Kantorowicz, the Eagles struggled to maintain consistency, allowing Midway to stay in the match. The visitors took advantage of key moments to edge out a 25-21 victory, forcing a fourth set.
Life U regrouped in the fourth and wasted no time regaining control. Keijl, who finished with a team-high 13 kills on a .455 hitting percentage, continued his dominance. Stadtlober contributed from the service line with four aces, while Prado anchored the defense with 23 digs. The Running Eagles fended off a late push from Midway, closing out the set 25-21 to seal the win.
TURNING POINT:
— After dropping the third set, Life U responded with a strong fourth-set performance, fueled by Keijl and Kantorowicz's offensive firepower.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
— Serano Keijl: 13 kills, .455 hitting percentage, six digs
— Jakub Kantorowicz: 13 kills, three aces, four digs
— Carlos Stadtlober: 31 assists, four service aces, nine digs
— Alexis Prado: 23 digs, three aces
The Running Eagles will look to build on this momentum as they travel to Benedict College on Thursday for a non-conference match.