BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – The Cornerstone University volleyball team is making its first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament since the 2004 campaign and they get it started Saturday in Kentucky against Union College. The 4 p.m. match is one of 12 across the country in the Opening Round with the winners avdvancing to the final site in Sioux City, Iowa.

Scouting Union (Ky.)
Head coach Jeremy Wise and the Bulldogs enter postseason play with a 32-9 overall record. Union is led by AAC Player of the Year Rachel Andrews (JR/Louisville, Ky. ), who ranks 27th in the NAIA in hitting percentage (0.330) to go along with a team-best 352 kills. Marissa Elam (JR/Muncie, Ind.) is next in line with 321 kills, while Elle Barnett (JR/Lexington, Ky.) (247 kills) and Maddie Jergesen (FR/Carson City, Nev.) (237 kills) rank among the team's top hitters. Jergesen is second on the team in blocks with 116.0, while Julia Edmonds (SR/Burlington, Ky.) ranks 33rd in the NAIA in total blocks at 126.0. Defensively, Paulina Hileman (JR/Johnstown, Colo.) has racked up 723 digs to rank her 17th nationally. Maggie McGraw (SO/Elkhorn, Wis.) is 34th in the NAIA in service aces with 52.
 
WHAC Champions
Cornerstone claimed its fifth ever WHAC regular season title with a 15-1 finish in league matches this season. They tied Lourdes atop the standings and it marks the fifth time CU has shared the title, but first with a school not named Madonna. CU also claimed the titles in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2004.
 
NAIA National Tournament History
Cornerstone has competed in one tournament in program history and that came during the 2004 campaign in which CU posted a final record of 48-6. Head coach Steve Burmaster and the Golden Eagles went 1-3 in their pool out at Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) with their lone win coming against the host Lions.
 
What's Next?
The winner of Saturday's Opening Round match will qualify for the final site of the 2016 NAIA National Tournament which is held in Sioux City, Iowa. The 32 teams at the final site will play in eight pools of four over the course of three days and then each pool's winner will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday and then the semifinals and finals on Saturday.
 
 
 
Volleyball Contact: Aaron Sagraves
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