NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Life U 3, Webber International 1
Match 2 Score: Reinhardt 3, Life U 0
Record: Life U 1-1; Webber International 1-4; Reinhardt 4-3
MARIETTA, Ga. – The Life U women's volleyball team opened its 2025 campaign with a split on day two of the annual Running Eagle Classic, taking down Webber International in the morning before dropping a tough afternoon matchup to Reinhardt. The Running Eagles rebounded from an opening-set loss to Webber to claim a 3-1 win, but were unable to close out sets against Reinhardt, falling in straight sets.
Match 1: Life U 3, Webber International 1
Life U started the morning slowly, dropping the first set 25-15 after committing nine attack errors. From the second set onward, however, Life U found its rhythm. The Running Eagles hit .250 in set two, led by Paola Vega and Katrin Hardardottir, who each connected on several key swings to give Life U control. The team closed the set 25-19 to even the match.
Momentum carried into the third set as Life U put together its cleanest frame of the day, hitting an impressive .407 with 15 kills and just four errors. The balanced attack was paired with a strong presence at the net, as Lela Parker and Jade Watson combined for multiple blocks that helped secure a dominant 25-14 result.
The Running Eagles capped the match with a 25-18 win in set four. Defense proved crucial, with Gianna DeVarenne and Mia Garcia combining for 20 digs to limit Webber's offense, while Vega finished with a team-high 14 kills and four blocks.
Overall, Life U hit .227 for the match and out-blocked Webber 13-5, showing control both offensively and defensively after a shaky opening frame.
Match 2: Reinhardt 3, Life U 0
In the afternoon matchup, Life U battled hard but fell in three close sets (26-24, 29-27, 25-14) to Reinhardt.
The first set featured multiple ties and late drama, with the Running Eagles holding leads at 20-19 and 23-22. However, Reinhardt capitalized on back-to-back Life U errors to steal the set 26-24.
The second set followed a similar script. Life U built a late 24-22 advantage behind strong swings from Vega and Hardardottir, but Reinhardt refused to fold. The Eagles rattled off four straight points, saving multiple set points before ultimately edging Life U 29-27 in an extended frame.
The tough losses in the opening two sets carried into the third, where Reinhardt controlled play from start to finish in a 25-14 closing set. Life U's offense never fully clicked, finishing with 27 kills and 25 errors for a .018 hitting percentage.
Victoria Davenport paced the Running Eagles with six kills, while Watson, Parker, and Hardardottir each added five. DeVarenne posted a team-high 12 digs, with Garcia adding 10 more from the back row.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Paola Vega: 14 kills, four blocks, and 14 digs in the win over Webber.
- Katrin Hardardottir: 11 kills on .269 hitting in match one, plus five kills in match two.
- Lela Parker: 10 total blocks against Webber, added five kills in the Reinhardt match.
- Gianna DeVarenne: 22 digs across both matches, including 12 vs. Reinhardt.
- Team Blocking: Life U tallied 13 blocks in the Webber match to control the net.
Up next, the Running Eagles return to action with an exhibition against Piedmont University.
