NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Life U 3, Brenau 0
Match 2 Score: Life U 3, Bryan 0
Match 3 Score: Point 3, Life U 1

Record: Life U 2-1; Brenau 0-1; Bryan 0-1; Point 1-0

CLEVELAND, Ga. – The Life University women's volleyball team won two of their three matches on day one of the Truett McConnell Invitation after a busy first day of competition at the tournament. The Running Eagles collected a pair of sweeps over Brenau and Bryan before falling in four sets to fellow SSAC school Point University. The Running Eagles showcased strong offense and serving in the early matches but were unable to close out the evening contest despite another gritty defensive effort.

Match 1: Life U 3, Brenau 0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-12)

Life U set the tone early against Brenau, rebounding from a 9-error first set with improved efficiency to take the opener 25-16. From there, the Running Eagles took complete control, hitting .357 in the second and .435 in the third to finish with a strong .310 attack percentage overall.

Freshman outside hitter Paola Vega led the charge with 13 kills on .385 hitting, adding six digs and a block. Jade Watson added nine kills and five total blocks, while Gabriela Rivera stuffed the stat sheet with 17 assists and seven service aces. Defensively, Reign Jarin anchored the back row with 12 digs, helping Life U limit Brenau to just a .011 hitting percentage.

Strong start for the Running Eagles! 🏐

Life U defeats Brenau in straight sets to kick off the Truett McConnell Invitational! pic.twitter.com/pcrAtOCaQR

— Life Running Eagles (@LifeUAthletics) August 29, 2025

Match 2: Life U 3, Bryan 0 (25-17, 25-7, 25-16)

The Running Eagles maintained their momentum in the afternoon sweep of Bryan, highlighted by a dominant second set in which Life U committed just two errors while hitting .417. The 25-7 result marked their largest set win of the day.

Watson continued to shine with 13 kills on .333 hitting, pairing her scoring output with steady play at the net. Vega contributed six kills and two aces, while Rivera posted 15 assists and an ace. Once again, Jarin stabilized the defense, tallying 15 digs, and Sydney Gonzales added two blocks and two service aces to keep Bryan out of rhythm. Life U finished the match with a .191 hitting clip, while Bryan managed just -.114 with 32 errors.

Back-to-back sweeps! 🧹

Life U takes down Bryan in straight sets to stay undefeated on opening day at the TMU Invitational!!

Up next, the Running Eagles take on Point tonight at 6 pm! 💪 pic.twitter.com/9p9aQFRaVL

— Life Running Eagles (@LifeUAthletics) August 29, 2025

Match 3: Point 3, Life U 1 (27-25, 22-25, 25-17, 27-25)

The finat match of the day against Point was the day's most competitive match. The Skyhawks claimed the opening frame 27-25 after a flurry of late rallies, but Life U bounced back to even the match with a 25-22 win in the second set. From there, Point's balance at the net began to shift momentum. The Skyhawks then controlled the third set 25-17 and held off a late Life U push in the fourth to close the contest 27-25.

The Running Eagles finished with 41 kills but also committed 29 errors for a .078 hitting percentage. Watson led the way with 10 kills, while Victoria Davenport and Vega each chipped in seven. Rivera distributed 18 assists and added a service ace. Defensively, Mia Garcia tallied 14 digs, while Jarin again reached double figures with 16, giving her a team-high 43 for the day.

Point countered with 47 kills on .129 hitting, led by strong contributions across its lineup.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:

• Paola Vega: 26 total kills, including 13 on .385 hitting vs. Brenau.
• Jade Watson: 32 kills across three matches with steady blocking at the net.
• Reign Jarin: 43 digs on the day, highlighted by 16 against Point.
• Gabriela Rivera: 50 assists and nine aces across three matches.
• Team Defense: Life U collected 155 digs and 22.0 blocks over the three contests.

Up next, the Running Eagles now move into a quarterfinal rematch against Bryan on Saturday at 10 am. The full schedule and standings after day one are included below.