FREMONT, Neb. – The Golden Eagles return to the NAIA National Tournament for the second consecutive season and fifth time in the last six years. Cornerstone, who earned the automatic bid through the WHAC Tournament, finishing second behind Madonna, is set to travel to defending NAIA National Tournament Runner-Up Midland University on Saturday, November 20. The single match will decide who heads to the NAIA Tournament Final Site in Sioux City, Iowa after Thanksgiving. The match is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST and 2 p.m. CT time. 
 
Season in Review 
The Golden Eagles had an outstanding year, as they went 24-14, 16-4 WHAC to finish second in the WHAC Regular Season and WHAC Tournament after graduating seven seniors and bringing in a new group of seven freshmen this year. CU started the year 4-8, then ended the year 20-6 as they saw three First Team All-WHAC athletes in Kaylee Dykema, Olivia Keelean, and Patsy Morris as well as two Second Team All-WHAC athletes in Aubrey Lenz and Rylie Walters. 
 
Dominating the Serve
Cornerstone's success throughout the year has come on the serve. CU has used the serve to get opponents out of rotation and used their balanced offensive attack to execute. The Golden Eagles rank seventh in the NAIA with 255 service aces this year. Rylie Walters is second in the NAIA with 67 service aces this season. 
 
Fremont Fun Facts
The city of Fremont is the home to the Midland University Warriors. Fremont is the home 26,387 people and is roughly 45 mins outside of Omaha, Nebraska. Midland is the largest college in Fremont and was founded in 1883. Midland is known for their athletics as they have the largest number of sports of any college in the state of Nebraska with 33 athletic teams including unique sports like powerlifting, women's flag football, and coed shotgun sports. 
 
About Warrior Volleyball
Midland comes into the final NAIA Top 25 Poll ranked ninth in the country after finishing as the 2020 NAIA National Tournament Runner-Up falling to Missouri Baptist in the championship. The Warriors have some veteran talent as they are led by two senior outsides in Taliyah Flores and Brooke Fredrickson. Flores leads the team with 393 kills, averaging 3.89 a set with a .269 hitting percentage. MU has a freshman middle Abbey Ringler who is also hitting .305 with a team high 91 blocks. Junior setter Hope Leimbach ranks third in the NAIA with 11.95 assists per set and 10^th with 1207 assists. As a team, the Warriors do not make mistakes as one of the lowest hitting error teams in the country. Midland is coached by Paul Giesselmann who is in his 12^th season and recorded a 262-104 overall record. 

Volleyball Contact: Jesse Campbell 
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