NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Life U 3, Faulkner 0
Record: Life U 12-5, 2-3 SSAC; Faulkner 8-10, 3-3 SSAC
MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University women's volleyball team earned a straight-set SSAC victory over Faulkner on Friday evening inside the Upper Gym, defeating the Eagles 25-15, 25-18 and 25-14.
Life U controlled much of the opening set, building an early 11-5 advantage behind kills from Kya Colston, Medney Garraux and Jadyn Walters. Faulkner responded with a 5-0 run to trim the deficit to 11-10, but the Running Eagles answered with a 5-0 stretch of their own. Service aces from Taelynn Epple and Garraux, along with kills from Garraux and Paola Vega, helped Life U take command of the frame. The Running Eagles closed the set on a block by Epple and Vega to secure the 25-15 win.
The second set was more competitive early, with neither team leading by more than two points through the opening stages. Life U held a narrow 13-12 advantage before Walters and Garraux helped spark a key run midway through the set. Walters and Sienna Pierre each recorded two points during the stretch, with Pierre adding a service ace as the Running Eagles extended the lead to 21-18. Walters then added consecutive kills to put Life U at set point before a Faulkner attack error ended the set at 25-18.
Life U carried the momentum into the third set, opening on a 4-0 run behind two Walters kills and a Vitoria Reis service ace. The Running Eagles never trailed in the frame, extending the advantage to 16-8 with strong play at the net from Garraux and Colston. Faulkner was unable to get closer than five points the rest of the way as Life U closed out the sweep. Epple recorded a kill to reach match point before a Faulkner attack error ended the contest at 25-14.
The Running Eagles hit .272 as a team while holding Faulkner to a .039 attacking percentage. Life U also finished with 45 kills, 45 assists, 59 digs, seven service aces and 11 total blocks in the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Life U totaled 45 kills, 45 assists, 59 digs, seven service aces and 11 total blocks.
- The Running Eagles hit .272 as a team, recording 45 kills on 103 attacks.
- Life U outscored Faulkner 75-47 in the three-set win.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
- Medney Garraux led the Running Eagles with 11 kills while hitting .364 and added 10 digs, two service aces and five total blocks.
- Jadyn Walters matched Garraux with 11 kills and hit .333 for the match.
- Vitoria Reis directed the offense with 16 assists while adding two service aces, six digs and a kill.
- Kya Colston posted seven kills on a .500 hitting percentage and contributed five total blocks.
- Emily Warner recorded 13 assists, three kills, one service ace and six digs.
