SIOUX CITY, Iowa – After taking control from the very beginning, the veteran Golden Eagles were tested by Saint Xavier as they came back from a two-set deficit before CU was able to pull the match out in five. Kathryn Detweiler powered Cornerstone to victory in the fifth set, while Olivia Keelean would record the match point kill. CU moves to 1-0 in Pool A of the NAIA National Tournament Final Site as they will face the top seed Eastern Oregon tomorrow at 11 a.m. EST with the winner advancing to the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals. 

Game Recap: Cornerstone – 3 Saint Xavier – 2 (25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 15-12)
 
Set One:

• Similarly to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round match, Cornerstone would get off to a bit of a slow start, falling behind 10-6 on a Courtney Hunter kill from the Cougars. 
• Rylie Walters was set early and often, and it started to work with the help of the block, as Cornerstone chipped back to cut the deficit to two at 14-12. 
• Kylie Barron would record a huge solo block that tied the set at 14. CU later took the lead on a kill from Aubrey Lenz and a service ace from Lenz, 16-14. 
• Courtney Hunter would get another big kill for SXU to tie the set back up at 18. 
• The Regan Vaughn serve got the Cougars out of system and sparked a 4-0 Golden Eagle run, with two kills from Kaylee Dykema to regain control 22-18. 
• A Saint Xavier service error would end set one in favor of Cornerstone, 25-21. 

 
Set Two:

• The Golden Eagle momentum carried into set two, scoring the first three points. Kaylee Dykema and Olivia Keelean combined for a huge block to open the set. 
• Kaylee Dykema later recorded a big kill to put CU on top 10-6 and force an early timeout from the Cougars. 
• Saint Xavier started to find their offense again, eventually responding to tie the set at 17 with a kill from Molly Hackett. 
• A Cornerstone timeout did not phase the Cougars as they would take their first lead of the set on a kill from Alexandra Wis. A SXU service error ended a 5-0 run and gave the Golden Eagles side out to put Rylie Walters at the service line. 
• Crucial errors down the stretch of set two allowed Cornerstone to come back and tie the set at 20. 
• Cornerstone would end set two on a 5-1 run to secure things. Kylie Barron, Kathryn Detweiler, and Olivia Keelean all recorded kills to secure set two 25-21. 

 
Set Three:

• Neither team could find much separation throughout set three. No team would lead by more than two points throughout the entirety of the set. 
• Trailing 16-15, Cornerstone used a 3-0 run capped off by a kill from Olivia Keelean to take command of things at 18-16 and force a timeout. 
• Playing for their lives in the tournament, SXU responded with five of the next six points to lead 21-19. 
• Wanting to win in three sets, Olivia Keelean would record yet another kill to tie things back at 21. 
• Three straight kills from SXU star Molly Hackett would secure the set three victory for the Cougars however, 25-23. 

 
Set Four:

• Saint Xavier would carry momentum into set four starting to figure out how to get the Golden Eagles out of system. SXU would score three straight with a service ace to start the set and lead 3-0. 
• Emma Whitley responded with a service ace to cut the deficit to just one, but SXU would continue to dominate with a 7-1 run to go on top 10-3. 
• Cornerstone started to chip their way back into the set with a big dig from Patsy Morris and a block from Rylie Walters and Kaylee Dykema. CU cut the deficit to just three at 13-10 forcing a Saint Xavier timeout. 
• Molly Hackett continued to be unstoppable, recording her 21^st kill of the match to increase the Cougar lead back to six at 18-12. 
• The veteran Golden Eagles refused to quit. Senior Kaylee Dykema crushed a ball that sparked a Golden Eagle 4-1 run and put them down just two at 22-20. SXU would use their final timeout. 
• After the timeout a Patsy Morris service error would give SXU a much-needed side out to secure set four 25-21 and force the five-set match of the NAIA National Tournament Final Site. 

 
Set Five:

• With all CU eyes on Molly Hackett in set five, Courtney Hunter would take control for SXU early in set five with two big kills to put them on top 4-1. 
• The CU sophomores would record some big points to put the Golden Eagles on top 7-6, as Kylie Barron recorded an overpass kill and Kathryn Detweiler hit a line shot for a kill of her own. 
• Another Kathryn Detweiler kill would have the two teams rotate sides with Cornerstone on top 8-7. 
• After switching sides Cornerstone would take control with a 4-1 run that saw yet another Kathryn Detweiler kill. 
• Senior Olivia Keelean was able to close things out on match point to give CU the 15-12 fifth set victory and their 34^thconsecutive victory. 

 
By the Numbers:
87-74 – Both teams were all over the floor on the defensive end as SXU ended the match with 87 digs and Cornerstone had 74. 
14/.308 – Olivia Keelean tied for the team lead with 14 kills, while hitting .308. 
44/19 – Aubrey Lenz recorded 44 assists and 19 digs to lead the team in each category. 
 
 
What's Next?
The Golden Eagles close out pool play with a match vs. the top seed Eastern Oregon tomorrow at 11 a.m. EST time. The winner of the match will advance to the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals starting on Saturday. 
 
Volleyball Contact: Jesse Campbell 
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