SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Cornerstone opened the 2017 NAIA Volleyball National Championships with a tough 5-set loss to No. 19 Jamestown (N.D.) on Tuesday morning. The Jimmies won the first two sets to put CU in a hole but the Golden Eagles fought back to force a fifth and deciding set where they ultimately fell 15-8. The setback is their first since late September and ends a 14-match winning streak as CU falls to 27-7 on the year. The Golden Eagles will face Texas Wesleyan on Wednesday at 1 p.m. EST.
Match Flow…
Cornerstone got off to a slow start in the opening set as the Jimmies pushed their lead to six (11-4) forcing CU into a timeout. That lead was dwindled down to 15-14 thanks to some strong attacks from
Jackie Stanko and blocking from
Kendra Zwart. After the Golden Eagles tied it up at 18-18, CU was unable to complete the comeback however as UJ scored seven of the last 11 points for a 25-22 win.
The second set was one to forget for CU as they just could not get anything going and Jamestown made them pay, going up 2-1 in the match with a dominating 25-11 win.
With their backs against the wall, Cornerstone played solidly in the third set and posted a 25-22 win to keep things going. Then trailing 23-20 late in the fourth, staring defeat in the eyes, CU scored the next four points and six of the next seven to complete an improbably comeback to force a fifth, winning 26-24.
The two teams traded points for the opening 10 of the fifth but a 5-0 run gave Jamestown a 10-5 lead and CU never recovered, eventually falling 15-8.
Notes…
Up Next?
Cornerstone will now play Texas Wesleyan on Wednesday at 1 p.m. EST in their second Pool A match. The Rams fell to No. 1 ranked Lindsey Wilson on Tuesday in straight sets.
Volleyball Contact:
Aaron Sagraves
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