GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles fought hard but would fall in four sets at rival Aquinas on Wednesday night, 25-22, 16-25, 20-25, 23-25. CU falls to Aquinas for the second straight time, the first time that has happened since 2014. Cornerstone will now take their 11-13, 6-8 WHAC record into a tough road weekend where they will face UNOH on Friday at 7 p.m. and receiving votes Indiana Tech on Saturday at 2 p.m. 

Game Recap: Cornerstone – 1 Aquinas– 3 (25-22, 16-25, 20-25, 23-25)
Set One:

• Cornerstone walked into a tough environment and got off to a great start. Kylie Barron recorded a kill that put CU on top 5-2. 
• AQ responded to cut the deficit to just one on an Abbi Perkins kill, 11-10. 
• The back-and-forth continued as the Saints eventually tied the set at 15 on a Jenna Lee kill. 
• A later 4-0 run by the Golden Eagles gave them command of the first set. Eliza Thelen combined on a block with Gabrielle VerBerkmoes and then recorded a kill of her own to lead 21-17. 
• An attack error would close the set in CU's favor, 25-22. 

Set Two:

• Aquinas started to find their rhythm in set two. Setter Lydia Harper recorded two dump kills in a 5-0 run that put Aquinas on top 9-5. 
• Emmalee Murphy and Eliza Thelen each recorded kills to cut the Saints lead to 13-10. 
• Lydia Harper dominated her serve to end set two on an 8-1 run. CU saw five attack errors in the run as AQ took set two by their largest margin of 25-16. 

Set Three:

• Eliza Thelen again was the name that helped CU to a bit of a rebound to start set three. She recorded a kill that put Cornerstone on top 7-4. 
• AQ responded with another big 5-0 run that was capped off by a big block. 
• Cornerstone could never regain the lead in the third set, but they cut it within one on multiple occasions. Gabrielle VerBerkmoes recorded a kill that made it 14-13. 
• Every time CU got close, AQ would go on a big run. Julia Schweihofer recorded a Saints service ace that made it 20-15. 
• Lydia Harper added a kill for the Saints to give them a 25-20 set three win. 

Set Four:

• Aquinas got off to their best start in set four. They led 4-1 behind two Chloe Hogarth service aces. 
• Jordyn Carlyle added three straight aces to increase the lead to 9-3 as Cornerstone struggled on the serve receive. 
• Alison Pignataro helped CU answer, serving a 5-0 run that saw three huge Golden Eagle blocks. Kylie Barron found herself involved in two of them. 
• Later in the set an Emma Whitley service ace and an AQ error would tie things at 14. 
• An Eliza Thelen solo block and a Hannah Giere kill gave Cornerstone a late lead at 18-16. 
• Kylie Barron and Jada Thomas added a kill, as CU increased their lead to their largest in the set of three, 20-17. 
• AQ again used a huge run to seal the match though, scoring eight of the last 11 points. Back-to-back blocks on the Hannah Giere attack would end the set in favor of AQ 25-23 as they took the match 3-1. 

By the Numbers:
12/.429 – Emmalee Murphy led CU with 12 kills and a .429 hitting percentage. 
2014 – Cornerstone has lost two straight vs. Aquinas for the first time in nine seasons. 
10-3 – CU lost the service ace battle 10-3. 
 
What's Next?
Cornerstone continues a long road stretch at UNOH on Friday at 7 p.m.  
 
Volleyball Contact: Jesse Campbell 
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