Box score

        MARIETTA, Ga. — Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball, stung by dropping a 2-sets-to-1 lead in its opening match, gained a split Friday in the Running Eagles Classic with a 27-25, 25-20, 25-15 victory against the host, Life University.
        The Gold Nuggets (1-1) will play two Saturday-morning matches — 9 o'clock against Ave Maria, then at 11 against Bryan — then bus home to prepare for their Sept. 3 home opener.
        XULA survived a roller-coaster first set against Life — the Nuggets led 15-9 and 17-15, then saved three set points. The Nuggets scored the final three points on a Kennedy Wade kill, a Life attack error and blocks by Taylor McGee and Niara Nims.
        The drama disappeared thereafter. XULA held leads it took early in each of the final two sets, and the result was a snap of the Running Eagles' 12-match home win streak. The Gold Nuggets also avenged a three-set home loss to Life from last season's opening round of NAIA nationals.
        Wade — who produced 13 kills, 13 digs and four aces — notched her second double-double of the day. Freshman Sydney Murray had nine kills and three aces, Linda Mungai had 19 digs and six assists, and Semira Blair produced 15 assists and an ace.
        "We made a big improvement from the first match to the second," Wade said. "We all stepped up, including our freshmen, which was nice to see. There was better connection between the setters and the hitters. The sets were a lot more consistent."
        XULA hit .349 in the final two sets after hitting .075 in the first. Overall XULA finished at .224, up slightly from .211 in the opener against Columbia International. This is the first time XULA hit at least .200 in each of the first two matches of a season. This is the Nuggets' 15th season.

XULA starters:  Semira Blair, Kendall Mack, Taylor McGee, Sydney Murray, Maya Smith, Kennedy Wade
XULA first-set libero:  Linda Mungai