GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The 19th-ranked Madonna University volleyball team struggled after a week off against Cornerstone University inside Mol Arena on Friday night.

The unbeaten Golden Eagles (10-0, 6-0 WHAC) remained atop the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference as they swept the Crusaders (4-2, 2-2), 25-20, 25-21, 25-22.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams traded long rallies in the first set, but it was the home team that scored five of the final seven points for the first set win. Cornerstone built a 20-13 lead early in set two, but the Crusaders battled back with a 6-1 rally to cut the deficit to 21-19 thanks to four CU errors and a pair of Ryan Castle kills. The teams traded two-point rallies the rest of the way as the Golden Eagles took game two, 25-21.

It was the Crusaders who took the early lead in set three, 11-8, but the Golden Eagles used a 9-6 rally to take a 17-15 advantage. The Blue and Gold tied the game at 17, but the offense never found a rhythm as the home team scored the next four and 8-of-13 for the match win. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.050/.140 - While both offenses struggled to find consistency, the home team hit .140 (39-22-121) while the Crusaders hit .050 (30-24-121).
4 - The margin favoring the home team in aces (6-2) and blocks (6-2).
5 - Jodie Kelly's number as the senior tallied 13 kills and added 16 digs.
29 - Total assists for Madonna led by Jordyn Dawson's 15.

UP NEXT
The Crusaders continue their four-game road trip when they return to play on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at Rochester University in Rochester Hills. 

Also, the game scheduled for Feb. 16 at Lourdes University has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.

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