Grand Rapids, Mich. – Cornerstone University faced off against the Calvin University Knights inside of the Van Noord Arena in a NAIA versus NCAA III faceoff. The Knights entered the contest with an overall record of 14-2, in their third year as a program. Calvin recently took down DIII #RV Wittenberg University in a four-set match. The Golden Eagles entered the competition 6-9 overall, coming off of a tough four-set loss to Indiana Tech.

The first set ended in favor of the Knights, as Cornerstone only put down three kills in a set they lost 25-21. Cornerstone turned it around in set two, as they knocked down 10 kills with only two service errors in the entirety of set two of action. The third set saw Cornerstone fly past Calvin 25-14, as the Golden Eagles were helped along by four service aces and a hitting percentage of .417. The fourth set was close again, but the Knights were able to get the edge with only one attack error to take set four 25-23. A five-point run, midway through the final set by Calvin University helped the Knights to the home victory with a fifth set score of 15-12.

Men's Volleyball return to the Mol Arena with more WHAC action, as they will host the Maple Leafs of Goshen College. The contest will take place this Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m.

Game Recap – Cornerstone – 2 Calvin – 3 (21-25, 25-22, 25-14, 23-25, 12-15)

First Set: Cornerstone – 21 Calvin – 25

• Calvin got it going in set one with a 3-0 run to open the game.

• Cornerstone were able to tie up the set after two attack errors by the Knights. The set score was 3-3.

• Three more points in a row by Calvin put them back in a three-point lead 6-3.

• A service ace by Matthew True and three more Calvin attack errors handed the lead to Cornerstone 7-6.

• Patrick Burke got the kill as Cornerstone trailed in set one 11-9.

• The Knights got back to a five-point lead in set one 14-9 that forced Cornerstone into a timeout.

• Andrew Galanes got two service aces in between three errors by the Knights that tied the set back up 17-17.

• Cornerstone's final two points of the set came off of a service error and an attack error by Calvin, but the Knights completed set one 25-21 over Cornerstone.

Second Set: Cornerstone – 25 Calvin – 22

• Ryder Roberts got the kill in set one that tied it up early on 2-2.

• A kill by Andrew Galanes rounded out a 3-0 run for Cornerstone that tied up set two 6-6.

• Matthew True hit another service ace in-between three more Calvin errors that extended the Cornerstone lead to three points 12-9.

• Cornerstone found themselves down by four points as they took a timeout. They came out of the timeout with three points to bring the set back within two points of Calvin 20-18.

• Matthew True, Ryder Roberts, and Patrick Burke all got kills that finished out the second set. Cornerstone took set two 25-22 over the Knights.

Third Set: Cornerstone – 25 Calvin – 14

• Matthew True got the first kill of set three, as Cornerstone found themselves ahead by two points early on 2-0.

• Matthew True got another service ace that kept Cornerstone up 4-1.

• Two more errors by the Knights continued Cornerstone's control in set three 7-3.

• A run of 4-0 by the Golden Eagles got them ahead of Calvin by eight points 13-5.

• A kill and two service aces by Ryder Roberts helped the Golden Eagles extend their lead to 10-points 22-12.

• Set three would finish in favor of Cornerstone thanks to one more kill by Matthew True, as they took set three 25-14.

Fourth Set: Cornerstone – 23 Calvin – 25

• Another set began with a kill by Matthew True for Cornerstone. He followed that play up with a service ace that put the Golden Eagles ahead 3-1.

• The fourth set was very back-and-forth, as Calvin tied it up 5-5. The Knights kept it going with a 3-0 run that propelled them ahead 8-6.

• A kill by Patrick Burke tied the set back up 9-9.

• Three points in-a-row by Cornerstone helped them retake the lead by a small margin 13-12.

• Patrick Burke added a service ace to his point tally, as Cornerstone remained on top 16-14.

• Three kills in a row by the Knights tied up set four 20-20.

• Cornerstone was forced into a timeout as Calvin University caught the one-point lead 22-21 in set four.

• The Knights took set four on two Cornerstone attack errors and a Knight service ace. Calvin forced the game into a fifth set by winning set four 25-23.

Fifth Set: Cornerstone – 23 Calvin – 25

• Two mistakes by Calvin early in set five gave Cornerstone a lead 2-1.

• Calvin University took the lead early in the final set with two kills and an attack error by Cornerstone that put the Knights up 4-2.

• A service ace by Ethan Walker tied the set back up 4-4.

• Ryder Roberts and Andrew Galanes both put down powerful kills that gave Cornerstone the lead back 7-6.

• The Knights were not done yet, as they went on a 5-0 run to get ahead to a three-point lead 11-7.

• The Golden Eagles saw themselves down by four points as Calvin sat at game point 14-10.

• Cornerstone got back into the game thanks to a service error by Calvin University and a kill by Ethan Walker that made it 14-12.

• Cornerstone were unable to complete the comeback in the final set and fell 15-12 and 3-2 in set score.

By The Numbers:

15/5/12 – Matthew True tallied 15 kills on the night with five service aces. He was second on Cornerstone's side for most digs with 12 in the five-set contest.

10/19 – 10 Kills by Andrew Galanes helped to keep Cornerstone's offense running in the long game. He tallied 19 assists in the contest versus the Knights.

16 – Mitchell Carrera led the team in total digs on the night with 16.

What's Next?

Men's Volleyball return to the Mol Arena with more WHAC action, as they will host the Maple Leafs of Goshen College. The contest will take place this Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m.

Volleyball Contact: Mason Young

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