NEED TO KNOW
Score: Life U 3, BPC 2
Record: Life U 10-3 (0-1 SSAC), BPC 9-3 (1-0 SSAC)
MOUNT VERNON, Ga. — The Life University women's volleyball team fell to the Barons of Brewton-Parker on Friday night, 3-2 (19-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-21, 9-15) on the road.
The Running Eagles dropped the opening set before taking the second and fourth sets to force a decisive fifth set. Though Life U entered the frame with all the momentum, the Barons never trailed in the final set.
Life U jumped out to an early lead in the first set, opening on an 8-3 run with a pair of service aces from Medney Garraux and Emily Warner. However, the Barons rattled off a 12-1 run midway through the set, taking a 19-13 lead into the latter half of the opening set. The Running Eagles attempeted to battle back late, but BPC claimed five of the last seven points to take the first set 25-19.
The momentum carried into the next set for the home squad as the Barons jumped out to an early 9-3 lead. Life U took a page from the BPC book, going on a 9-2 run midway through the frame. Kaylee Cantlin, Jadyn Walters and Garraux all recorded kills during the run as the Running Eagles took a 14-12 lead. Though the Barons attempted to rally, back-to-back kills and a service ace from Garraux closed set number two.
The third set proved to be the most competitive with multiple lead changes early. Neither team was able to take greater than a five-point lead until late in the set where the Barons eventually pulled away.
Trailing 2-1 going into the fourth, Life U once again fell behind early. However, a rally midway through the set, spurred by kills from Kya Colston, pulled the Running Eagles back within one. Life U made the set difficult for the Barons, holding the opposing squad to its only negative hit percentage of the day. Closing the set in dominant fashion, the Running Eagles went on a 9-1 run.
Despite the momentum, the final set of the night belonged to BPC. The Barons never trailed in the final set and claimed the decisive win 15-9.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Life finished with 40 kills, 36 assists, 44 digs, 5 service aces and 5 total blocks while hitting .213 as a team. BPC finished with the lead in kills (45) and service aces (22).
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
The Running Eagles continue SSAC play, traveling to take on Wesleyan College on Saturday, Sept. 19.
