NEED TO KNOW
Score: Life U 3, Baptist University of Florida 1
Record: Life U 9-2
MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University women's volleyball team extended its winning streak to four matches Tuesday afternoon, defeating Baptist University of Florida 3-1 (25-13, 26-28, 25-19, 25-22) inside the Upper Gym.
The Running Eagles took the opening set comfortably before Baptist answered in a back-and-forth second set. Life responded by taking the third set and then held off a late Baptist push in the fourth to close out the match.
Life jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, building an 8-5 advantage before extending the margin to 17-8. A Taelynn Epple service ace and a Medney Garraux kill helped Life maintain control before a Baptist attack error gave the Running Eagles the 25-13 win.
BUF responded in the second set, building a 10-4 lead. Life battled back and eventually tied the set at 22-22 following a Rylie Springer service ace. The Running Eagles reached set point at 24-23, but Baptist answered to force extra points and ultimately took the set 28-26.
The Running Eagles then regained control in the third set, opening with a 2-0 lead and later building a 5-1 advantage. The hosts then maintained the lead throughout the remainder of the set and closed it out 25-19 to move within one set of the match.
In what proved to be the final set, the Eagles from BUF opened with a 9-5 lead, before Life U battled back to tie the frame at 12-12. The Running Eagles then built an 18-14 advantage following a Garraux service ace. BUF continued to pressure Life late, but the Running Eagles reached match point at 24-21 before Kya Colston delivered the match-clinching kill to secure the 25-22 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Life finished with 50 kills, 46 assists, 77 digs, 11 service aces and 13 total blocks while hitting .148 as a team. Baptist finished the match with a .051 hitting percentage.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
- Kya Colston: 12 kills, .524 hitting percentage, five total blocks
- Medney Garraux: 12 kills, 11 digs, three aces, two total blocks
- Vitoria Reis: 26 assists, 12 digs, one kill
- Taelynn Epple: Six kills, six digs, two aces, five total blocks
- Paola Vega: Eight kills, six digs
- Jadyn Walters: Six kills, two block assists, one ace
The Running Eagles now turn their attention to Southern States Athletic Conference play, opening conference competition on the road at Wesleyan this weekend.
