SAU Stays Perfect with Five-Set Win Over (RV) Cornerstone

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – In front of a lively home crowd, the Spring Arbor University volleyball team delivered a statement win Wednesday night, taking down Cornerstone University — a team receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Poll — in a five-set thriller.

The Cougars improved to 9-0 on the season with the victory in their 2025 home opener.

Spring Arbor 3, (RV) Cornerstone 2

Scores: 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12

The night didn't start the way the Spring Arbor had hoped, as Cornerstone came out and took the opening two sets, 25-19 and 28-26, to grab control of the match. But, with their unbeaten record on the line, the Cougars showed their resilience. 

Spring Arbor flipped the momentum in the third, leaning on heavy swings from Kelsie Lilly and Keely Hinzman to claim a 25-21 win. The fourth set was tight early, but a 5-0 run by the Cougars midway through the frame helped propel them to a 25-17 win, and even the match at two sets apiece.

With the home crowd behind them, Spring Arbor carried that energy into the deciding fifth set. The Cougars never trailed, pulling away to a 15-13 win to complete the reverse sweep and stay perfect on the year.

Lilly finished with a career-high 17 kills to lead the way while Hinzman followed with 16 on a .424 hitting percentage. Isabelle Kirkendall had nine kills and the reigning Crossroads League Attacker of the Week, Kendall Bollenbacher, finished with seven kills and 18 digs. Camy Wedge and Gabby Bryja kept the offense humming with a combined 50 assists with Wedge also adding three aces. The defense was anchored by libero Aliza Munro with 23 digs while freshman Alexis Remtema registered seven blocks.

Spring Arbor will play in the Siena Heights University Labor Day Invitational on Friday, Aug. 29 and Saturday, Aug. 30. The Cougars take on Olivet Nazarene University on Friday at 4:30 p.m. before facing off against Trinity Christian College and Calumet College of St. Joseph on Saturday.