University Park, Ill. – Men's Volleyball hit the road for the first time in the 2026 season dropping both games they played to #3 St. Thomas and #RV Governors State. Matthew True led the Golden Eagles with 23 total kills across both matches while Ethan Walker recorded nine total blocks. Cornerstone returns home to take on #7 Lawrence Tech on Tuesday, February 3rd with game time set for 7 p.m.

Game Recap – Cornerstone – 1 #3 St. Thomas (Fla.) – 3 (18-25, 25-21, 17-25, 13-25)
 
First Set: Cornerstone – 18 St. Thomas – 25

• The match began with Cornerstone taking a 4-2 lead with back-to-back kills from Ethan Walker and Matthew True.
• Cornerstone maintained their lead as Kyle Hortness set up Ethan Walker for another kill to make it a 10-8 game,
• The Bobcats took the lead after back-to-back errors by CU.
• A pair of service errors by St. Thomas followed by a block from Josiah Reif and Ethan Walker got the Golden Eagles within four as the Bobcats held a 22-18 lead.
• St. Thomas followed that by getting three straight points to take the first set 25-18.

Second Set: Cornerstone – 25 St. Thomas– 21

• The second set started with CU taking a 3-1 lead with two kills by Matthew True.
• Both teams traded points tying the set at seven with a kill from Andrew Galanes.
• Cornerstone scored five straight points with JeQuarri Shannon getting back-to-back kills to give CU a 20-17 lead.
• Andrew Galanes gets a kill and a service ace before setting up Ethan Walker for a kill to take the second set 25-21.

Third Set: Cornerstone – 17 St. Thomas – 25

• The third set began with the Bobcats taking a 5-1 lead over CU.
• Cornerstone was able to stay within three as Kyle Hortness set up Andrew Galanes for another kill.
• The Golden Eagles got three straight points with a kill from Matthew True and two errors by St. Thomas to make it a 13-9 game in favor of the Bobcats.
• St. Thomas went on a 6-2 run extending their lead to eight over Cornerstone.
• Matthew True added another kill but St. Thomas closed the third set immediately after taking 2-1 set lead.

Fourth Set: Cornerstone – 13 St. Thomas – 25

• CU fell behind early to begin the fourth set but got back within one with a solo block by JeQuarri Shannon and two errors by the Bobcats.
• St. Thomas responded by taking a seven-point lead over CU scoring four-straight points.
• Matthew True and Kyle Kuebler get kills late but the Bobcats scored three-straight points to take the set and the match.

Game Recap – Cornerstone – 1 #RV Governors State – 3 (19-25, 29-27, 21-25, 19-25)
 
First Set: Cornerstone – 19 Governors State – 25

• The match began with Governors State taking an early 6-2 lead over CU as Cornerstone had four errors to begin the match.
• CU got within one as Matthew True and Andrew Galanes combine for a pair of kills.
• GSU followed that up by getting four-straight points off three errors by the Golden Eagles to take a 14-9 lead.
• The Golden Eagles continued to fight back with kills from Kyle Hortness, Matthew True and JeQuarri Shannon cutting the Jaguars lead to one.
• Governors State went one a 6-1 run to take 25-19 victory in set one.

Second Set: Cornerstone – 29 Governors State– 27

• The second set started with the teams tied at six with JeQuarri Shannon getting back-to-back kills.
• Cornerstone kept the set within three as Matthew True, JeQuarri Shannon, Andrew Galanes and Ryder Roberts all got kills to cut into the Jaguars lead.
• CU scored four straight points to take a 20-19 lead highlight by a block by Matthew True and Ethan Walker.
• GSU and CU continued to battle back and forth tying the second set at 25 before Cornerstone got three straight points including a service ace by Patrick Burke to secure a 29-27 set two win for the Golden Eagles.

Third Set: Cornerstone – 21 Governors State – 25

• The third set began with Cornerstone getting out to a 5-2 lead with four kills and an error by GSU.
• The Jaguars responded with a five-point run to take a 9-6 lead and forced CU to take a timeout.
• Cornerstone stayed within two with a kill by Ryder Roberts and an ace from Andrew Galanes to make it a 15-13 game in favor of Governors State.
• The Golden Eagles went on two different four point runs to cut the Jaguars lead to 23-21.
• GSU took the third set 25-21 with a block and took a 2-1 set lead.

Fourth Set: Cornerstone – 19 Governors Stats – 25

• CU fell behind early in the fourth set but stayed within two off a kill by Matthew True.
• Three straight errors by the Jaguars kept the Golden Eagles within four which was then followed by a Matthew True kill.
• JeQuarri Shannon landed a solo block followed by a kill from Patrick Burke which made it a 20-17 game in favor of GSU.
• Governors State then went on a 5-2 run to secure the set and match win over Cornerstone 25-19 and a 3-1 match victory.

By The Numbers:
23/3 – Matthew True led the Golden Eagles with 23 kills and three blocks in total over the two matches.
22 – Mitchell Carrera had 22 digs across both matches 
9/12 – Ethan Walker totaled nine blocks and 12 kills over both matches on the day.

Men's Volleyball Contact: Mason Young
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