Livonia, Mich. – The AQ women's volleyball team returned to the court this afternoon (Oct. 29) to take on Madonna University. The Crusaders would pick up the win in four sets after beating Aquinas in sets one, two, and four. MU won by set scores of 25-17, 25-22, 24-26, and 25-16.

Aquinas is now 11-21 on the season with a 7-11 conference record. Madonna improves to 13-11 with a 10-8 conference record.

The first set did not start well for the Saints as MU jumped out to a commanding 15-2 lead. AQ was able to get a bit of momentum going, but the deficit was too significant to overcome. Madonna would win the first set 25-17 and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

AQ looked to turn the match around in the second set as it took a 4-1 lead after a pair of kills from Abbi Perkins, a kill from Claire Phillips, and an error from the Crusaders. The Saints briefly held a slim lead until a 6-0 run from Madonna would give the home team an 11-6 lead and force AQ to use its first timeout of the set.

Another small run from the Crusaders would double AQ's score at 14-7. MU looked to be in control of the set, but an 8-2 run from Aquinas that featured a kill from Brooke Nicholson, a pair of aces from Cassie Sustrich, and a pair of kills from Melissa Beachnau would narrow Madonna's lead to just one point. The two teams would trade the next five points to bring the score to 21-20 in favor of MU.

Jennifer Johnson would pick up back-to-back aces to take the lead back for AQ with the score at 22-21. However, a Madonna timeout would stop the Aquinas momentum in its tracks. MU would come out of the timeout and take the next four points to take a 25-22 second set victory.

The third set changed the pace of the match as both teams proceeded to trade points back-and-forth. A 4-0 run that included a kill from Beachnau and blocks from Samee Teachworth and Sustrich would give AQ a 14-10 lead. Madonna would quickly respond with a four-point run of its own to tie the third set at 16-16.

However, Aquinas would take four of the next five points and, with a 20-17 advantage, was in control of the third set. However, MU would slowly make its way back into the set and eventually tie the set at 24-24. Nicholson would end any chance at a Crusader comeback in the third set as she picked up a kill and a solo block to end the third set and give AQ a 26-24 victory.

The Saints would fall victim to another big run in the fourth set as a 9-0 run would give MU a 14-7 lead in fourth set. The Crusaders would follow that run up with a 5-1 run and were firmly in the position to end the match with a 19-9 advantage. AQ would get a little momentum going, but Madonna would end the match with a 3-0 run to make the score 25-16.

Madonna swept the statistical comparison between the two sides, leading in kills (41-37), hitting percentage (.240-.160), aces (12-11), blocks (12-8), assists (37-32), and digs (46-38).

Nicholson was the team leader in kills with nine (.107) throughout the match. She also had a solo block, two block assists, and a dig.

Beachnau played well, picking up seven kills with a .357 hitting percentage.

AQ is back in action for its last home match of the season on Wednesday (Nov. 2). The match is set to begin at 7:00 PM inside of the Sturrus Center as Aquinas will be honoring its seniors for senior night.