Grand Rapids, Mich. – The AQ women's volleyball squad took to the court again tonight (Oct. 26) for another WHAC matchup against UM-Dearborn. Aquinas entered the match on a two-match win streak after upsetting Indiana Tech and UNOH this past weekend. The Saints would extend its win streak to three matches after a dominant performance against the Wolverines. Aquinas would sweep UMD by set scores of 25-23, 25-16, and 25-13.
The Saints are now 11-19 and 7-9 in conference play after their late-season resurgence.
The first set started with the two sides trading points back-and-forth out to a score of four-to-four. The visiting Wolverines would take a small advantage following that point and hold on to that slight lead for a majority of the set. UMD would grow the lead to four with a 17-13 advantage, forcing AQ to use its first timeout.
UMD would go on to take a 20-16 lead, but AQ would begin to mount a rally after a kill from
Abbi Perkins, an ace from
Cassie Sustrich, and a block from
Brooke Nicholson and
Kaylin Poole would narrow the UM-Dearborn lead to one with the score at 21-20. UMD would use its first timeout, but Aquinas would keep the momentum rolling and take its first lead of the set with the score at 23-21, forcing UMD to use its second timeout of the set.
The timeout wouldn't stop Aquinas from taking the first set as Perkins would get her sixth kill of the set and Nicholson would get the final kill, winning set number one 25-23.
The second set was much like the first as the Wolverines took an early lead and held a slight lead going into the midway point of the set. However, AQ would once again rally behind Nicholson's four block assists and solo block during the set. The Saints would tie the set at 16-16 and then proceed to take the next nine points to run away with the second set.
The nine-point run would give AQ a commanding 25-16 win in the second set as the home side took a 2-0 match lead.
AQ's momentum continued into the third set as the home side took an 8-4 advantage. UMD would rally back to tie the set at 8-8, but a 4-0 run would give the Saints a 12-8 lead and force UMD to take its first timeout. The timeout wouldn't do anything to stop the Aquinas momentum as three huge kills from
Samee Teachworth would help extend the AQ lead to 18-9.
The Wolverines would use their second timeout of the set in an attempt to salvage the match, but it would be too late. Nicholson, Teachworth, and Perkins would combine for 14 kills during the third set as the Saints would run away with the score and win 25-13.
AQ dominated the scoresheet, leading in all statistical categories. The Saints led in kills (43-24), hitting percentage (.312-.058), assists (37-21), aces (6-2), digs (38-30), and blocks (11-6).
Nicholson would lead the team in kills and blocks after a huge performance from the middle hitter. She would total 12 kills (.440), one solo block, eight block assists, a dig, and an assist.
Teachworth would end the match with 11 kills (.412) of her own after a big six-kill third set. Teachworth would also contribute with a block assist in the winning effort.
Perkins was the third Saint to eclipse the ten-kill mark (.250), along with adding an assist, three digs, and three block assists.
Jordyn Carlyle played great as the libero with 13 digs, three aces, and three assists.
Sustrich also played a great match with two kills, 31 assists, two aces, and three digs.
AQ is back in action this weekend with two matches, one on Friday (Oct. 28) and one on Saturday (Oct. 29). The Saints are up against Concordia on the road on Friday, followed by Madonna on Saturday.
