GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --- NAIA No. 22-ranked Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio) got the best of the University of St. Francis women's volleyball team before host Cornerstone University (Mich.) rallied for a four-set victory against the Fighting Saints in first-day play at the Aquinas College (Mich.)/Cornerstone Invite on Friday night. Mount Vernon Nazarene scored a 25-14, 25-15, 25-11 victory in the opener, while Cornerstone gained a 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 26-24 nod in the nightcap.
Gabriela Oliveira led USF's offense in both contests with a combined 24 kills on the night. She also recorded five aces in the match against Cornerstone.
Kaylie Sippel totaled 55 assists between the two matches.
On defense, the Saints received 25 digs from
Leah Talley.
Match 1: Mount Vernon Nazarene def. USF 25-14, 25-15, 25-11
The ranked Cougars controlled the match, falling behind just one time over the three sets. Leading 8-6 in Set 1, Mount Vernon Nazarene went on a 5-0 run to go up 18-11
before scoring seven of the final 10 points to take the early lead.
In Set 2, the Saints jumped out on top 3-0 only to have MVNU respond with seven of the next eight points. The Cougars (11-2) would then use a later 9-2 burst to seal the game.
On top 11-6 in Set 3, Mount Vernon Nazarene scored the next 11 points to seal USF's fate. The Cougars would finish with a .350 attacking percentage on the night.
Match 2: Cornerstone def. USF 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 26-24
The Saints (2-6) had their chances to gain a split on the night, leading late in two of the three sets that they eventually lost. USF trailed in Set 1, but received a pair of kills from Oliveira during a 5-0 burst to go up 20-16. Cornerstone (5-4) would get as close as one point twice before
Madison Koelker sealed the first-game win with a kill and an ace.
Set 2 was a see-saw affair resulting in 13 ties and five lead changes. St. Francis led 23-21 in the late going only to have Cornerstone tally the final four points to even the match at one game apiece.
USF again led 13-11 in Set 3 before Cornerstone put together a 6-0 run to go up 17-13 and never trailed the rest of the way.
The hosts also opened up an 18-12 advantage midway through Set 4 only to find the Saints rally behind Oliveira's three aces. That put USF up 22-20 only to have Cornerstone respond with six of the final eight points for the match victory.
Oliveira accounted for 17 kills and five aces, while Sippel totaled 36 assists and 11 digs.
Talley (14 digs) and
Desiree Anderson (13) also had double-figure dig totals for the Saints.
Taylor Connolly (5 blocks) and
Cadence Wodrich (four) provided the majority of USF's nine blocks.
Notes: Anderson had a historic night, eclipsing the 1,000 mark in both kills (1,006) and digs (1,000) for a career … Oliveira's 17 kills versus Cornerstone were her second-highest total of the year as were Sippel's 36 assists … Oliveira's five aces in the second match marked a personal best as were Koelker's five blocks … The second match featured 38 ties and 14 lead changes … In five of its eight matches this season, St. Francis has opened with a first-set victory … The Saints continue the two-day tournament on Saturday, facing Grace College (Ind.) at 10 am and Aquinas College at 12 pm.
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