The AQ men's volleyball team took to the court early today (Feb. 12) for an important WHAC matchup against the #10 Lourdes Gray Wolves. Aquinas had a tough loss on Wednesday (Feb. 9) against the Siena Heights Saints and were looking to bounce back today. Unfortunately, that would not happen today. Lourdes would take a 2-0 lead in the match. Aquinas started a comeback, winning the third set and taking a late lead in the fourth set. The Gray Wolves would close out the lead and claw back into the set, eventually winning 29-27 after a thrilling fourth set. Lourdes would win by set scores of 25-23, 25-17, 19-25, and 29-17.

AQ is now 8-3 with a 4-3 WHAC conference record.

The Saints started off the match well, picking up a quick 5-1 lead. However, Lourdes' Jeff Lam managed to pick up a couple of service aces and brought the score back to 7-5 in favor of the Gray Wolves. The Gray Wolves held a slim lead for the remainder of the first set, eventually leading 21-16. Aquinas began a rally with a couple of blocks from Chase Gil, bringing the score back to 21-20 before Lourdes to a timeout to stop the building momentum. The teams traded points with the score tied at 22. Jeff Lam picked up another kill and an error by Julian Armendano made the score 24-22 in favor of Lourdes. Armendano would get another kill, but Lam would follow with his ninth kill of the set to give the Gray Wolves a 25-23 set win.

The second set was not as close, with Lourdes jumping out to an early lead. The Saints narrowed that lead to 6-6, but then the Gray Wolves broke away. AQ was eventually forced to call timeout with the score at 16-8. That timeout wouldn't do much for the Saints as Lourdes remained hot. The set would end with a score of 25-17 for the Gray Wolves, giving Lourdes a 2-0 lead in the match.

Aquinas looked to start a rally in the third set, starting with a 5-1 lead. Lourdes tied up the match quickly and the two teams remained within three points for a majority of the set. Aquinas began to break away with an 18-14 lead, forcing a Lourdes timeout. The timeout wouldn't stop the Saints as Joshua Boothroyd and Gil would slam down a couple of massive kills. The Saints would go on to win the set 25-19 and narrowing the match to 2-1.

Aquinas was determined to make a match of this event. Aquinas went up 3-0 before Lourdes equalized at 3-3. Lourdes would continue to maintain a steady lead and eventually grew that lead to four points with a 16-12 lead. Aquinas fought back and eventually took a lead of its own with a 21-19 lead after a 9-3 run. Lourdes would go on a 4-2 run of its own, tying the match at 23 and forcing Saints timeout. The teams would trade blows with the match remaining tied at 26. Lourdes would pick up a kill to take its first lead in nearly 10 points at 27-26. Aquinas would take a timeout as the match comes down to the wire. Aquinas would pick up the next point off of an error, but the Gray Wolves would bounce back with two points to win the set 29-27.

Lourdes held a slim lead in most statistical categories, leading in kills (50-49), hitting percentage (.317-.305), assists (49-48), and digs (39-32). AQ had more blocks (10-9.5) and the teams each had 10 aces.

Armendano was the team leader in kills with 15 (.344). He did a little bit of everything today with two assists, two aces, and six digs.

Boothroyd had 14 kills (.370) and also did a bit of everything with an assist, an ace, five digs, and two block assists.

Daniel De La Rosa was the team leader again in blocks with a solo block and three block assists. He also contributed eight kills (.462) in the effort this morning.

Matthew Richmond and Leo-Paul Rousseau shared setter duties again today. The duo combined for 41 assists, a kill, six aces (Rousseau had four), six digs, and a block assist.

The Saints will look to stop the two-game skid with a road match against Goshen on Wednesday (Feb. 16) at 7:00 PM. Aquinas swept Goshen earlier this season at home and will be looking for a similar outcome.