For the sixth time in the last seven matches, the Aquinas women's volleyball team played the full five sets in its match, with the Saints dropping Sunday's (Sept. 22) five-setter to visiting UNOH inside the Sturrus Center by a 3-2 tally. After topping Indiana Tech in five sets less than 24 hours earlier with 15-8 fifth set win, AQ was unable to close out the fifth set on Sunday, as the Racers sealed the win with the 15-11 triumph.
The teams alternated wins in the first four sets, before UNOH claimed the win with the fifth set win. Aquinas dropped the match by set scores of 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 20-25, and 11-15. The Saints are now 4-8 on the season and 1-2 in WHAC play, while UNOH improves to 13-5 overall and 3-1 in league action. Like AQ, the Racers also played five sets on Saturday, defeating Cornerstone 3-2 in Grand Rapids.
Sunday's match featured 32 tie scores and eight lead changes, including 11 ties in set two and 10 ties in the fourth frame.
After UNOH tied the match at 2-2 with the 25-20 fourth set win, the score was tied at 5-5 in the fifth. The Racers jumped in front at 10-6 and appeared to be in control, but AQ responded with a 4-0 run, which included two UNOH errors and a pair of
Kylie Christensen kills to make it 10-10. UNOH, however, notched back-to-back points and five of the final six points for the 15-11 win.
Each team recorded 64 kills, while the Racers hit .288 offensively and AQ posted a .203 attack mark. UNOH led in assists (63-61) and held large edges in digs (86-66) and blocks (8-3). Both teams served six aces.
Christensen notched a team-high 21 kills and hit .319 in 47 swings.
Payton Klein put up 13 kills and hit .417, while adding three block assists. Jacki Rozell notched a second straight double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs, while chipping in two aces.
Kali Crawford handed out 52 assists and totaled nine digs, six kills, and two aces.
Karly Morris tied for match-high honors with 23 digs.
Maddie Ingraham delivered seven kills and two digs, while
Meredith Kraus supplied five kills, four digs, and an ace.
Sam VanHouten picked up 12 digs.
Since Sept. 6, Aquinas has played seven matches and six of those have gone the full five sets. AQ topped IU-Kokomo 3-2 on Sept. 7 and Indiana Tech on Saturday, as the team is 2-4 in five-setters this year.
The Saints will look to bounce back quickly, as the team goes on the road for three matches this week. AQ heads out to face Concordia (Wednesday), Lawrence Tech (Friday), and Rochester (Saturday) in key WHAC contests.
