Machado’s 16 Kills Not Enough as Blue Devils Drop WHAC Opener at Cornerstone

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Lawrence Tech opened Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play with a strong start but could not sustain the momentum in a 3-1 road loss to Cornerstone (MI) on Tuesday night at Mol Arena. The Blue Devils claimed the first set 25-22 before the Golden Eagles responded to take the next three, 25-15, 25-20 and 25-22.

Lawrence Tech’s attack was effective throughout the night, finishing with 49 kills and a .202 hitting percentage, but Cornerstone’s pressure at the service line and at the net proved to be the difference. The hosts totaled 12 service aces and 15 block points, swinging the match after the Blue Devils controlled much of the opening frame.

In that first set, the Blue Devils weathered an early Cornerstone push sparked by an ace from Andrew Galanes, then settled in behind steady setting from Pedro Aguiar and a balanced pin attack. Lawrence Tech closed the frame on a well-executed sideout as Aguiar connected with outside hitter Mario Cid for the set-winning kill at 25-22, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the conference opener.

Cornerstone answered decisively in the second, using aggressive serving to tilt the momentum. Two aces from Kyle Hortness helped the Golden Eagles build a multi-point cushion, and Galanes capped the set with a kill for a 25-15 result. The third set followed a similar pattern as Cornerstone again used its serve to create separation, with Mitchell Carrera delivering key aces as the hosts pulled ahead. Lawrence Tech stayed within striking distance, but a late service error by opposite hitter Noah Lippman ended the set at 25-20 and put Cornerstone up 2-1.

The Blue Devils battled to extend the match in a tightly contested fourth set. Lawrence Tech’s block, which finished with nine block points (3 solo, 12 assists), and the offense of Gustavo Machado and middle blocker Yegor Volkov kept the visitors within a point or two for most of the frame. Cornerstone’s block, however, continued to be a factor down the stretch as the hosts completed the comeback with a 25-22 win to close out the match.

Machado led Lawrence Tech with a match-high 16 kills on .250 hitting, adding one ace, five digs and a solo block for 18.0 points. Volkov was highly efficient in the middle, posting 12 kills on a .429 attack percentage with a solo block and an ace to reach 16.0 points. Aguiar directed the offense with 42 assists, while contributing nine digs and three block assists as the Blue Devils finished the night with 47 assists, 44 digs and four aces.

Overall, Lawrence Tech held a 49-42 edge in kills and narrowly out-hit Cornerstone, .202 to .195, but the Golden Eagles’ advantage at the service line (12 aces to four, with only eight service errors to the Blue Devils’ 19) and at the net (15 block points to nine) proved decisive. Cornerstone was led by Galanes with 10 kills, 18 assists and five aces for 16.0 points, while Matthew True added 12 kills and 15.5 points.

The conference-opening contest was officiated by first referee Brian Smith and second referee Timothy Bearden, with an announced attendance of 100. Lawrence Tech now turns its attention to the upcoming stretch of WHAC play, aiming to build on the offensive production shown in the opener while tightening serve-receive and limiting errors against league opponents.