The #25 Aquinas women's volleyball team traveled to Kokomo, Indiana to compete in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament on Saturday afternoon (Apr. 17). The Saints faced the #23 Cougars, but were unable to come up with the win, dropping the opening round match to IU-Kokomo in three sets (25-21, 25-16, and 25-14).

Aquinas hung tough with the Cougars in the first set as the Saints battled back from a 7-0 IU-Kokomo start. Eventually tying the game at 14 and 15 points, the Saints went on a little run themselves to make it a 19-15 AQ advantage. The Cougars scored nine of the next 10 points to give the first set to the Cougars, 25-21. 

The Cougars kept the momentum going as they notched 15 kills as a team in the second set. IU-Kokomo also took the third set, as the Cougars proved to be too strong for AQ and clinched the victory. AQ's Payton Klein posted her fifth double-double this year, totaling 12 kills and 11 digs.

Kali Crawford dished out 19 assists in the match and also added eight digs and a pair of block assists. Adrien Yondo finished with 19 digs while Kenzi Dobosiewicz totaled 10. Emily Jones posted six kills and four digs for the Saints. Kylie Christensen tallied four kills and Samee Teachworth added three kills and two block assists. 

The Saints were outblocked today, 7-4. The Cougars also took the edge in kills (34-29) and digs (73-69). AQ's errors were too costly down the stretch, totaling 24 in the three-setter. IU-Kokomo moves to a 23-5 overall record and will advance to the second round of the tournament.

Despite the Saints' season concluding with the loss today, AQ finishes the year with a remarkable 21-4 overall record. The Saints finished the year as the regular season conference runner-up and WHAC Tournament runner-up. Aquinas was 12-2 in conference, dropping just two matches to the conference champions. 

This is the second trip to the NAIA National Tournament for the senior class of Ally Blackford, Christensen, Crawford, Klein, Olivia Martinelli, and Sam VanHouten as they also reached Nationals just two seasons ago in 2018. 

This 2020-2021 season, the Saints have been awarded 10 WHAC Player of the Week Awards. Crawford and junior Jackie Rozell also received NAIA National Player of the Week honors. AQ finished the year with four First Team All-WHAC selections, one Second Team All-WHAC selection, Crawford as the Setter of the Year, and Teachworth on the All-Freshman Team. AQ will look to continue their national reputation and winning ways next season.