NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Life U 3, Webber International 1
Match 2 Score: Life U 3, Johnson University 0
Match 3 Score: Life U 3, Warner University 0
Match 4 Score: Life U 3, Reinhardt 0
Record: Life U 4-0
MARIETTA, Ga. – The Life U women's volleyball team delivered a dominant performance at this year's 2026 La Tribu Carlos Soler Invitational, finishing a perfect 4-0 on its home court while honoring the legacy of former head coach Carlos Soler. After opening the tournament with a four-set victory over Webber International, the Running Eagles swept Johnson University, Warner University, and Reinhardt to cap off an impressive weekend in Marietta, winning 12 of their 13 sets played throughout the event.
Match 1: Life U 3, Webber International 1
The Running Eagles opened tournament play Friday morning with a strong offensive performance against Webber International. Life U claimed the opening two sets by scores of 25-22 and 25-21 before Webber battled back to take the third set, 25-19. Rather than allowing momentum to shift, the Running Eagles regrouped and closed the match with a 25-18 victory in the fourth set.
The Running Eagles finished with 55 kills and a .295 hitting percentage while limiting Webber to a .115 mark offensively. Medney Garraux led the attack with 14 kills on .462 hitting, while Kaylee Cantlin added 10 kills and Kya Colston contributed seven. Emily Warner directed the offense with 23 assists as Life U totaled 63 digs in the victory.
Match 2: Life U 3, Johnson University 0
Life U continued its strong play later Friday with a convincing sweep of Johnson University.
The Running Eagles controlled the opening set 25-14 before surviving a competitive second frame, 25-23. Life U then closed out the match with another 25-14 victory in the third set to remain undefeated in tournament play.
The offense generated 41 kills while hitting .296 as a team, and the defense limited Johnson to just a .089 attacking percentage. Kya Colston and Medney Garraux each recorded eight kills, while Sienna Pierre sparked the Running Eagles with five service aces.
Match 3: Life U 3, Warner University 0
The Running Eagles opened Saturday with another impressive performance, sweeping Warner University in straight sets.
The Running Eagles hit .400 in the opening set with 17 kills on their way to a 25-19 victory. Life U followed with a dominant 25-16 second-set performance, forcing Warner into attacking errors and controlling play at the net.
Warner mounted a late push in the third set and trimmed the deficit to 24-22, but the Running Eagles responded immediately to complete the sweep. Medney Garraux led the way with 13 kills, while Emily Warner contributed four service aces and 12 assists. Kya Colston hit .625 as Life U finished the match with a .303 hitting percentage and 10 service aces.
Match 4: Life U 3, Reinhardt 0
Looking to complete a perfect weekend, the Running Eagles delivered their strongest performance of the tournament, sweeping Reinhardt in straight sets. Life U battled through two tightly contested opening sets before pulling away in the third to cap off an undefeated weekend at the invitational.
The opening set featured nine ties and multiple lead changes before the Running Eagles pulled away late for a 25-23 victory. Medney Garraux delivered several key kills down the stretch, while Kaylee Cantlin closed out the set to give Life U an early advantage.
The second set proved even more dramatic. Reinhardt battled back to tie the score at 24-24, but the Running Eagles answered immediately. Jadyn Walters recorded back-to-back kills to secure a 26-24 victory and move Life U within one set of a perfect tournament.
The Running Eagles saved their best volleyball for the final frame, hitting .500 with 15 kills and only two errors while steadily pulling away. Life U closed out the tournament with a 25-21 victory, completing the sweep and finishing the weekend unbeaten.
Garraux led all players with 16 kills while adding eight digs and two service aces. Walters contributed 11 kills on a remarkable .688 hitting percentage, while Cantlin added nine kills and Sienna Pierre recorded three aces. Life U hit .299 as a team in the victory.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Medney Garraux: 51 kills, 38 digs, six service aces, and six blocks across four matches.
- Kaylee Cantlin: 30 kills and key late-match points throughout the tournament.
- Kya Colston: 24 kills while hitting efficiently throughout the weekend.
- Emily Warner & Vitoria Reis: Combined for 104 assists while directing the Life U offense.
- Rylie Springer: Team-high 20 digs during the tournament.
- Sienna Pierre: Eight service aces, including five against Johnson and three against Reinhardt.
- Jadyn Walters: Posted 11 kills on .688 hitting against Reinhardt and delivered the decisive points late in the second set.
- Sienna Pierre: Tallied five service aces against Johnson and three more against Reinhardt to help fuel the Running Eagles from the service line.
- Team Success: The Running Eagles finished 4-0 at the La Tribu Carlos Soler Invitational and won 12 of 13 sets played during the event.
Up next, the Running Eagles continue their early-season schedule looking to build on an undefeated weekend.
