NEED TO KNOW
Score: Life U 3, United States Sports University 0
Record: Life U 8-2
MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University women's volleyball team swept United States Sports University on Friday night, defeating USSU in straight sets, 25-17, 25-22, 25-8, inside the Upper Gym. The non-conference victory moved the Running Eagles to 8-2 on the season.
The Running Eagles and USSU battled to a 12-12 tie in the opening set before the Running Eagles used a 5-0 run to take a 17-12 advantage. Rylie Springer recorded back-to-back service aces during the run, while Jadyn Walters added a kill. Life then continued to control the set, with Taelynn Epple adding an ace at 22-16 and Medney Garraux recording a kill at 23-16 before the Running Eagles closed out the frame, 25-17, on a USSU service error.
The second set remained competitive, with the Running Eagles building an 18-14 lead before USSU trimmed the deficit to 18-17. The Running Eagles then went on a run before a Paola Vega kill to put Life at set point, 24-21. Jadyn Walters finished the set with a kill from Vitoria Reis, giving the Running Eagles a 25-22 win.
After USSU opened the third set with a 2-0 lead, Life U answered with a 6-1 run to take a 6-3 advantage. The Running Eagles continued to pull away, building a 15-6 lead before closing the match on a 10-2 run. Vitoria Reis recorded three straight service aces during the stretch, taking Life to match point at 24-7. Kya Colston then delivered the match-clinching kill as Life completed the sweep with a 25-8 win.
The Running Eagles hit .365 as a team, recording 35 kills on 63 attacks while adding 11 service aces and five total blocks. Life also held USSU to a .053 hitting percentage and finished with 75 total points compared to 47 for the visitors.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Life U finished with 35 kills, 34 assists, 28 digs, 11 service aces and five total blocks.
- The Running Eagles hit .365 as a team, committing 12 attack errors on 63 attempts.
- Life recorded 75 total points compared to USSU's 47.
- Life won the opening two sets 25-17 and 25-22 before closing the match with a dominant 25-8 third-set victory.
- The Running Eagles posted their highest hitting percentage of the match in the third set at .588, recording 11 kills with just one attack error.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
- Paola Vega led Life with seven kills while hitting .417 and added two digs and a block assist.
- Kya Colston recorded six kills without an attack error, hitting .857, while adding two total blocks.
- Vitoria Reis directed the offense with 19 assists and added four service aces and two digs.
- Mia Goldbach registered eight digs and added three kills while hitting .500.
- Medney Garraux contributed four kills, seven digs, two service aces and a block assist.
- Taelynn Epple finished with four kills, two service aces and two total blocks while hitting .667.
- Lela Parker added four kills and two total blocks for the Running Eagles.
The Running Eagles will see United States Sports University again tomorrow when the teams meet at 12 p.m. in a non-conference matchup inside the Upper Gym.
