Adrian, Mich. – The AQ women's volleyball side took on a tough 15-7 Siena Heights team on the road today (Oct. 15). Aquinas pulled off a big victory in the first set, but SHU would quickly respond. Siena Heights would go on to win the next three sets and pick up their 16th win of the season. SHU won by set scores of 19-25, 25-18, 25-21, and 25-18.

AQ is now 8-18 on the season with a WHAC record of 4-8.

SHU jumped out to an early 5-3 advantage, but a 5-0 run from the Saints would put them back on top with the score now 8-5. The two sides would continue to battle back and forth, but Abbi Perkins would completely take over down the stretch. With a 15-12 lead, Perkins would generate five of AQ's next seven points and grow the lead to 22-14. Brooke Nicholson, Jenna Lee, and Samee Teachworth would get the next three kills as AQ picked up a first set victory by a score of 25-19.

The second set started out extremely competitive between the two sides with the score tied at 10. However, SHU would pull together a huge momentum swing as the home team scored the next eight points and forced AQ to use both of its timeouts. Aquinas would follow that up with a 5-0 run of its own, but the visiting Saints were unable to climb out of the deficit. SHU would win set number two by a score of 25-18 and tie the match at 1-1.

Aquinas held the lead for the majority of the third set. The visiting Saints raced out to a 5-1 lead and held that lead until SHU went ahead 11-9. Aquinas would immediately respond and take the lead back, holding the advantage until SHU, once again, tied the set at 20-20. From there, Siena Heights managed to score five of the next six points to win the third set 25-21.

Aquinas appeared to be in a good position to rally back in the fourth set. AQ quickly jumped out to an 8-3 lead, but Siena Heights continued to respond well to adversity. SHU slowly found its way back into the set and took its first lead with a 14-13 advantage. The two sides would tie the set at 16-16, but the home team would pull together another late-set run, taking nine of the next 11 points and winning the set 25-18.

Siena Heights held the statistical advantage in nearly all categories, leading in kills (71-60), hitting percentage (.272-.204), aces (11-8), blocks (8-4), and digs (60-59). The two sides both had 46 assists.

Perkins was the team leader in kills with 14 (.222) on the match. She also had two block assists and four digs.

Nicholson was the other Saint to generate double-digit kills today, tallying ten (.259). Additionally, Nicholson contributed three block assists and two digs.

Cassie Sustrich played well as the setter as she provided 41 assists, two kills, two aces, two block assists, and 11 digs.

AQ returns to action this upcoming Wednesday (Oct. 19) to take on #22 Cornerstone University. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM.