The Aquinas men's volleyball team capped a 3-1 weekend at the Judson Invitational in Elgin, Ill. on Saturday (Feb. 8) with a split of its final two matches. #9 AQ posted a 3-1 victory over host Judson in the opening match before dropping a 3-0 final to #3 Missouri Baptist in a match that was closer than appeared by the final score.
 
After sweeping both opponents on Friday (Feb. 7) – Goshen and Rockford – the Saints topped Judson (6-10) by scores of 25-16, 25-15, 27-29, and 25-15. Aquinas had a rematch with Missouri Baptist exactly one week after falling to the Spartans in a five-set heartbreaker last Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. 
 
On Saturday afternoon, Missouri Baptist (14-2) won by the minimum two points in all three sets, capturing the victory by scores of 28-26, 26-24, and 25-23. AQ is 10-4 after winning three of four matches over the weekend.
 
The Saints hit .337 against Judson, with 40 kills and just nine errors. Zane Moothart led AQ with 10 kills, five block assists, and three digs, while Will Donald put down eight kills in 10 attempts and did not commit an error. He added four digs, four blocks (one solo), and three service aces.
 
Both Daniel Soliz and Joshua Boothroyd provided seven kills; Soliz hit .558 on his nine swings and Boothroyd did not commit a hitting error and hit .583 to go with four digs and two blocks. 
 
Colby Elder notched a 25-assist, 11-dig double-double, while Matthew Richmond passed for nine assists and served an ace. The Saints held Judson to just a .138 hitting percentage. Although the Eagles totaled more kills (45-40) than Aquinas, Judson committed 29 hitting errors to only nine for AQ. 
 
The Saints held a wide lead in blocks (9-1), while Judson was on top in digs (40-38) and assists (42-40). Both teams recorded six aces.
 
The rematch against Missouri Baptist could not have been closer for a three-set sweep. Two of the three sets went to extra points, with the Spartans being just six points better than Aquinas over the three sets. Missouri Baptist did hit .413 with 47 kills and only nine errors, while AQ hit .272 with 34 kills and 12 errors.
 
The Spartans were also on top in aces (9-6), blocks (5-2), assists (46-34), and digs (32-30). AQ and Missouri Baptist met in last year's NAIA National Tournament semifinals, with the Saints earning a 3-1 victory over the then-#1 Spartans.
 
Ruben Lopez put up a team-high 10 kills and a .381 hitting percentage, while Moothart did not commit a hitting error and notched eight kills, six digs, a block, and an ace. Boothroyd posted seven kills, five digs, and three service aces.
 
Donald added five kills and an ace and Daniel De La Rosa secured four kills in six swings, along with two blocks (one solo). Elder passed for 33 assists and picked up eight digs. Kelsey Yogi led AQ with eight digs. 
 
The Saints are back home on Wednesday (Feb. 12) against Lawrence Tech in a 7:00 p.m. WHAC match. AQ swept the Blue Devils in all three meetings last year.