The Saints played the final match of the regular season tonight (Oct. 3) against the UM-Dearborn Wolverines. Aquinas held a slim lead throughout the entirety of the first set with both teams staying within five points of each other.
Jenna Berens took over serving with the score at 21-17 and served the team to a first set victory of 25-17. The second set was not as kind to Aquinas, as the Wolverines jumped out to a 5-2 lead to start the set. Both teams remained extremely close throughout the entirety of the set before Dearborn won the last three points of the set, winning 25-23.
With the match score tied at 1-1,
Jordyn Carlyle started the third set for Aquinas serving and raced out to an early 4-0 lead. Some errors from the Wolverines and four kills from
Meredith Kraus led to 25-21 win, bringing the match to 2-1. Dearborn jumped out to an early lead in the fourth set, but the Saints were not to be deterred, quickly rallying back, and picking up the third set by a score of 25-19.
The 3-1 win brings the Saints record to 22-13 with a WHAC conference record of 13-7. With a probable fifth seed in the WHAC standings, the Saints will be on the road to start the WHAC tournament.
The Saints held a slight edge in most statistical categories, leading in kills (44-39), hitting percentage (.133-.050), assists (42-38), digs (79-77), and blocks (13-8). The teams drew in aces a 5 apiece.
Kraus was the team leader again in kills with 15 (.289), while also contributing an assist, six digs, and six block assists.
Emily Jones also broke the ten-kill threshold, adding 12 (.391) of her own. Not only was she a menace on offense, but she knocked down 3.5 balls at the net and added two aces.
The team played extremely well defensively, averaging nearly 20 digs a set.
Adrien Yondo put up 22 digs, five assists, two aces, and a kill as the libero.
Kenzi Dobosiewicz and
Jennifer Johnson were also stout defensively, adding 15 and 14 digs, respectively.
Chloe Mitchell had 28 assists, two kills, nine digs, and two block assists.
The Saints next match will be next Wednesday (Nov. 10) the opponents are not certain, so stay tuned on social media for updates on who their opponent will be.
