RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Cornerstone came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Vanguard in the opener but then fell in five sets to No. 7 Westmont on the first day of the La Sierra Tournament in Riverside. Calif. The split leaves the Golden Eagles at 5-1 on the year as they will play Hope International and La Sierra on Friday to conclude their California trip.
Match 1 – Cornerstone 3, Vanguard 2 (27-25, 16-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13)
Cornerstone turned back the clock to 2016 as they came back from a 2-1 deficit to close out the Lions in a five-set thriller. CU posted a 10-1 mark in five-set matches last season.
Kendra Zwart matched a career high with 22 kills while the outside duo of
Bailey Cummings and
Heather Carlson combined for 25 kills.
Hope Leppink finished with a match-high 57 assists while Carlson posted a season-high 29 digs.
Match 2 – #7 Westmont 3, #16 Cornerstone 2 (25-23, 25-16, 23-25, 23-25, 15-11)
Westmont, who was the only team in the NAIA to finish last season undefeated, came in with a 4-1 overall record and a trio of All-Americans and they raced out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a 25-23 win in the opener and 25-16 victory in the second.
CU fought back with a pair of 25-23 wins in the next two but a 10-1 run to start the fifth proved costly as Westmont closed the comeback chance with a 15-11 win.
Kendra Zwart,
Bailey Cummings and
Heather Carlson combined with 42 kills in the loss while
Hope Leppink had 49 assists and
Mackenzie Vallad 35 digs.
Notes…
Up Next?
Cornerstone will remain in California and at La Sierra as they complete their 13-day stay with a pair of matches on Friday. CU will face Hope International at 1 p.m. EST and finish with a 5 p.m. contest against the host Golden Eagles.
Volleyball Contact:
Aaron Sagraves
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