Top seeds prevail in women's volleyball semifinals

LIVONIA, Mich. - (TOURNAMENT PAGE) - The 2021 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Women's Volleyball Tournament semifinals did not disappoint. In the first semifinal match, second-seeded Cornerstone swept No. 3 Indiana Tech, but each set was hard fought until the end. The nightcap saw top-seeded Madonna survive a scare from No. 5 Siena Heights in four sets with most sets being won by three points or less.

Madonna and Cornerstone now face off on Saturday in the tournament championship match at 1 p.m. Cornerstone has won three of the last four tournament titles (2017, 2018, 2020). Madonna last won the tournament in 2013.

#2 Cornerstone (24-13) def. #3 Indiana Tech (24-13), 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-21)
The first set was evenly paced with neither team gaining more than a three-point advantage until Cornerstone pushed out to a five-point lead at 22-16 behind a 5-0 run. The Warriors rattled off six straight points before Cornerstone capitalized on a service error to finish the set with three straight points. CU jumped to a slight lead early in the second set only to see Tech respond and for a 9-8 lead. Cornerstone scored the next three points and never trailed again. The third set again saw CU control the action early on and pushed the advantage to a 19-10 lead. Tech was able to string together a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to three at 21-17, but the Golden Eagles took the next two points to open the gap again. After three points from the Warriors, Cornerstone prevalied with two of the next three points for the sweep.
Stat Leaders
Kills: Walters 13 (CU); Westra 9 (IT)
Assists: Lenz 31 (CS); Schriver 22 (CU)
Digs: Morris 20 (CU); Blust 19 (IT)

#1 Madonna (28-5) def. #5 Siena Heights (19-9), 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 27-25, 25-23)
The opening set saw six ties until a Madonna4-0 run gave the Crusaders a 21-16 advantage. With a 23-18 lead, Madonna recorded a kill to earn a set point before another kill gave them the first set. The second set was much of the same as the teams played to nine ties. Siena Heights got consecutive blocks for a 16-13 lead. After trading points, SHU pulled away for a 22-18 lead. Madonna gained a point, but could not get any closer. The third stanza was just as close as the teams battled back and forth. MU had match point, but the Saints evened the score at 24s and again at 25s after an attack error on both sides. Madonna's two kills ended the set. The Crusaders found themselves down 11-7 in the fourth set before mounting a 4-0 run to knot the score. The score would be tied three more times until MU enjoyed a two-point lead at 21-19. SHU answered with one point, but three straight points put MU at match point. The Saints rallied for the next three points and the score sat at 24-23. Madonna returned from a timeout with a kill to survive with a win.
Stat Leaders
Kills: Miller 23 (MU); Marinelo Ruhlman 13 (SHU)
Assists: Bates 47 (SHU); Dawson 41 (MU)
Digs: Sweeney 16 (MU); Osborne 16 (SHU)