GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on the opening day of the Aquinas College/Cornerstone University Crossover Classic on Friday.

Spring Arbor fell in straight sets (25-12, 25-8, 25-18) to host Cornerstone (19-8), which is receiving votes in the Top 25 Poll before suffering a 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-16) defeat to the University of Northwestern Ohio (11-19).

In the match with Cornerstone, the Cougars were unable to slow down the CU attack as the Golden Eagles finished the afternoon hitting at a .419 clip. Freshman Kasey Follis registered six kills followed by junior Rebekah Kujat with five. Follis also added eight assists and six digs. Senior Kayleigh Bytwerk scooped up eight a team-best eight digs while freshmen Mackay Heasley and Annica Stotz added six apiece.

Spring Arbor would look to bounce back against Northwestern Ohio in its second match of the day. The Cougars started hot opening a 7-2 advantage in the first set, but the Racers rallied back to grab the lead. A kill from sophomore Courtney Kyser trimmed the deficit to one late, 19-18, however UNOH would end the frame on a 6-1 run to jump in front.

A slow start would cost the Cougars in the second set as Northwestern Ohio sprinted out to a 10-3 lead and refused to let it slip away. And, in the third set, the Racers used a 7-1 run midway through the frame to clinch the match.

Kujat posted 10 kills to lead the way for SAU while Kyser matched her season-high with seven. Stotz handed out 15 assists and sophomore Gabrielle Hilliard contributed two aces. Stotz also recorded a team-high eight digs followed by Bytwerk with six and Follis with five.

Spring Arbor (5-22) will be right back in action tomorrow against Siena Heights University (12-9) at 10 a.m. and Aquinas College (14-12) at 1 p.m.

Volleyball Contact: Chris Bauman | 517-750-6504 | christopher.bauman@arbor.edu
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