NEED TO KNOW
Score: Life 3, Faulkner 2
Record: Life 5–3 (1–0 SSAC)
MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University women's volleyball team staged a dramatic comeback Friday evening, overcoming a two-set deficit to complete a reverse sweep of Faulkner (Ala.), 3–2, inside the Upper Gym. With the win, the Running Eagles improve to 5–3 overall and open Southern States Athletic Conference play 1–0.
The visitors controlled the early stages, edging Life U 25–23 in the opening set before pulling away late in the second, 25–19, to establish a 2–0 lead. Undeterred, the Running Eagles regrouped and found their rhythm, grinding out a 25–21 victory in the third frame.
The Running Eagles then seized momentum in the fourth, breaking out to an early cushion and never looking back in a decisive 25–17 result that leveled the match. In the winner-take-all fifth, the Running Eagles rode their defensive pressure and a charged home crowd to close out the comeback, 15–10, securing the program's first reverse sweep of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Both teams finished with 69 points apiece, but Life U held a narrow edge in hitting efficiency, .104 to .103.
- The Running Eagles controlled the net with 13.0 total blocks, compared to 12.0 from Faulkner.
- Service pressure played a key role, with the Running Eagles recording nine aces while committing only seven errors.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
- Jade Watson led the attack with a team-high 13 kills, adding two blocks.
- Mia Garcia contributed a double-double, tallying 10 kills alongside a team-best 16 digs.
- Gabriela Rivera paced the offense with 23 assists and provided five crucial service aces.
- Sydney Gonzales anchored the defense at the net, posting four solo blocks and five total.
- Esosa Ehigiator added seven kills and five total blocks, hitting an efficient .333.
UP NEXT
Life University returns to action on Saturday, September 6th, continuing SSAC play at home against Mobile inside the Upper Gym at 1pm.
