SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - Lawrence Tech University defeated Cornerstone University 3-2 on Senior Day, pulling out a 25-20, 29-31, 25-16, 25-27, 15-11 victory Tuesday night at Don Ridler Fieldhouse in Southfield. The Blue Devils won a match filled with momentum swings and long rallies, finishing with a 119-105 edge in total points before closing the fifth set in front of a home crowd of 75.

The Blue Devils set the tone by taking the opening set 25-20. Lawrence Tech pulled away late behind consecutive kills from Mario Cid and Yegor Volkov, then finished the set with a kill and a Cornerstone attack error. Cornerstone answered in the second with one of the tightest stretches of the night, surviving a back-and-forth battle for a 31-29 win. Matthew True delivered a late kill, and an LTU attack error ended the set to even the match at 1-1.

Lawrence Tech regained control in the third. Volkov and Gustavo Machado powered the offense, and an Akram Askoul service ace helped stretch the margin in a 25-16 set win. The fourth set was just as tight as the second, with Cornerstone again finding enough late points to extend the night. True recorded a late ace as the Golden Eagles escaped with a 27-25 decision, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.

In the final set, the Blue Devils responded quickly. Lawrence Tech built an early edge behind kills from Volkov and Cid, then held off Cornerstone's push before Machado closed the match with a late kill for the 15-11 finish. It capped a productive offensive night for LTU, which posted 69 kills and a .273 hitting percentage while adding 68 assists and 63 digs.

Volkov led all players with 31 points and 25 kills, adding two aces and six digs. Askoul gave Lawrence Tech 17.5 points with 11 kills, two aces and a .381 hitting percentage, while Cid contributed 15 kills and 15.5 points. Cornerstone was led by True, who finished with 23 points, 18 kills, three aces and 11 digs. Andrew Galanes added 17.5 points for the Golden Eagles, recording 15 kills on a .556 hitting percentage along with 20 assists.

Lawrence Tech's statistical edge showed up across much of the match. The Blue Devils finished with 69 kills to Cornerstone's 50 and hit nearly 80 points higher as a team, overcoming 20 service errors in a match that repeatedly turned on short bursts late in sets. On a Senior Day that stretched to the limit, Lawrence Tech had the last run and the last swing, with Machado's closing kill ending a night the Blue Devils had to earn point by point.