GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Women's Volleyball traveled down the road to face off against a tough nationally ranked Aquinas team and fell short 3-0. The Golden Eagles battled back-and-forth with the Saints but couldn't keep the momentum in their favor. Aubrey Johnson led the way recording her third straight double-double of 12 kills and 11 digs. The loss moves Cornerstone to 9-6 (3-3) on the year as they return home to face off against Madonna on Saturday, September 28.

Game Recap – #12 Aquinas – 3 Cornerstone - 0 (19-25, 16-25, 30-32)
 
First Set: Aquinas – 25 Cornerstone – 19

• Aquinas jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead thanks to a couple kills and an attack error by the Golden Eagles.
• Cornerstone would respond with four out of the next five points to take a 5-4 advantage over Aquinas after a kill from Emmalee Murphy.
• Five straight points for the Golden Eagles forced Aquinas into a timeout as they now lead 10-4 thanks to three straight errors by Aquinas and a kill from Gabby VerBerkmoes.
• The Golden Eagles continue to hold onto the lead as a kill from Aubrey Johnson made it 13-7.
• The momentum started to flip as a 5-1 run from Aquinas saw them chip away at the Golden Eagle lead to make it 15-13.
• Cornerstone would then respond back with a 3-1 run thanks to back-to-back kills from Emmalee Murphy to make it 18-14.
• Fresh out of the AQ timeout, the Saints found some huge momentum as they scored eight straight points to take a 22-18 advantage. Aquinas had three aces in the run.
• The defense struggled to close out the first set as two more Aquinas service aces saw them take set one 25-19.

 
Second Set: Aquinas – 25 Cornerstone – 16

• Kills from Emmalee Murphy and Aubrey Lenz was followed by an Olivia Endris service ace to give Cornerstone an early 4-3 lead.
• Aquinas's second 8-0 run of the match forced Cornerstone into their first timeout as they now lead 11-4. The Saints had six kills and two service aces during the run.
• A 6-2 run by the Golden Eagles cut into the Saint lead 13-10 after an Aubrey Johnson kill.
• Cornerstone continued to stick around as another kill from Aubrey Johnson makes it 16-14.
• Aquinas rattled off five quick points with a couple more service aces to make it 21-14.
• The Saints take set two 25-16 thanks to a couple kills and another ace.

 
Third Set: Aquinas – 32 Cornerstone – 30

• Cornerstone and Aquinas opened the third set tied 3-3 after a kill from Kylie Barron.
• Kills from Aubrey Johnson and Emmalee Murphy gave Cornerstone an early 8-7 advantage.
• A 5-1 run by the Saints sees them take a 15-12 lead over Cornerstone halfway through the third set.
• Cornerstone would answer with three straight points to knot the set at 15 thanks to a service ace from Olivia Endris.
• The run continued as the Golden Eagles took a 18-16 lead thanks to a kill from Emmalee Murphy and a service ace from Aubrey Lenz.
• Aquinas would respond quickly with a 5-0 run retake the lead 21-18.
• Just like the third set has been, the Golden Eagles would tie it right back with a 3-0 run.
• Three straight points for Cornerstone has them one point away from a fourth set as Aubrey Johnson had two kills to make it 24-22.
• The Saints would respond with a 3-0 run as they used three straight Golden Eagle errors to make it 25-24.
• The third set continued to go back-and-forth as the Golden Eagles led 27-26, 29-28, and 30-29 before the Saints would pull out three straight points to take the third and final set 32-20.

By the Numbers:
14 – Aquinas recorded 14 service aces for the match
12/11 – Aubrey Johnson recorded her third straight double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs
.116 – Cornerstone hit .116 for the match, just under Aquinas's .144
 
What's Next?
Women's Volleyball returns home for alumni day on Saturday, September 28 as they host Madonna at 2 p.m.
 
Volleyball Contact: Jonny Strube
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