GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Spring Arbor University women's volleyball team dropped a pair of road matches Friday, falling in five sets to No. 9 Aquinas before a four-set loss to Cornerstone.
The Cougars, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll, moved to 14-6 overall. Their Crossroads League record remains 6-3 following the two nonconference matches.
Spring Arbor pushed Aquinas to a deciding fifth set before falling 22-25, 25-23, 22-25, 29-27, 7-15. The Cougars hit .351 with 16 kills in the fourth set to extend the match, but the Saints answered with 10 kills and no attack errors in the fifth.
Isabelle Kirkendall led SAU with 18 kills and 10 digs.
Natasha Bickel added 13 kills while hitting .370, and
Keely Hinzman finished with 10 kills.
Gabby Bryja recorded 22 assists and 10 digs, while
Camy Wedge added 21 assists and 12 digs.
Palmer Fortress led the defense with 16 digs. Aquinas' Cece Pelak totaled 30 kills as the Saints improved to 24-1.
In the evening match, Spring Arbor fell to Cornerstone, which is also receiving votes nationally, 20-25, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25.
The Cougars held the Golden Eagles to a .075 hitting percentage in the second set to even the match. SAU led 17-16 in the fourth, but Cornerstone closed the set on a 9-3 run to secure the win.
Kirkendall again paced the offense with 16 kills, while Bickel added 10 and
Iyla Weeks finished with eight. Fortress collected 21 digs, and Wedge recorded her second double-double of the day with 24 assists and 13 digs. Bryja contributed 13 assists.
Spring Arbor returns to Crossroads League play Wednesday, Oct. 7, at No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan in Marion, Indiana. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
