Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Madonna University Crusaders volleyball team suffered a loss at the hands of No. 12 Aquinas College (17-25, 25-19, 13-25, 24-26) in their opening game of conference play on Wednesday evening. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Crusaders looked to make a statement in the conference and come out with a big win over a very talented Aquinas team. In the first set, the Crusaders found themselves up 12-10 early until a 9-0 run by the Saints would make the gap too large for the Crusaders to overcome and Aquinas would take the first set 25-17.

In set two, Madonna again would jump out to an early lead and eventually would go on a 6-1 run started by Kira Buza to put the Crusaders up 21-15. The Saints gave their best attempt to come back but a Katie Mulka kill would secure set two for the Crusaders with a final score of 25-19.  

In set three Aquinas would flex their muscle and easily take set three with a final score of 25-13 leading into a must win set four for the Crusaders to force a fifth set. 

Set four was an exciting set of back and forth action with neither team able to take more than a three point lead. Midway through the set the Crusaders found themselves up three before a 6-0 run by the Saints put them up by three. Then Sydney Stonerock sparked a 4-0 run for the Crusaders to tie the game up at 17 a piece. The Saints would then follow that up with a 3-0 run of their own until it was Stonerock kill again that would spark a 2-0 run making it 19-20 in favor of the Saints. The Crusaders would eventually take a 24-23 lead off a Evan Hughes kill with only one point needed to force a fifth set. But instead it would be the Saints who would finish the game with a 3-0 run to win the match with a 26-24 final.   

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Hannah Keenan would lead the Crusaders in kills with 15.
• Karlee Stoll would finish with 37 assists and 11 digs.
• Evan Hughes led the team in hitting percentage with .389.
• Khloee Stoll led the team in digs with 15. 

UP NEXT:

Madonna is back in action on Friday, September 6th in a tri match for their home opener against Trinity Christian and Western University. Their first game will be at 3:00 PM and their second game will begin at 7:00 PM. 


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