The Aquinas women's volleyball team lost for the first time in WHAC play this season, as visiting Siena Heights topped AQ by a 3-0 score on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 18) in the Sturrus Center. In the Battle of the Saints, Siena Heights prevailed in three tight sets by scores of 27-25, 25-22, and 25-21.
Sunday's result was Aquinas' first loss of the year in conference action; AQ is now 5-11 overall and 2-1 in WHAC play. Siena Heights improves to 7-6 on the year and 3-1 in the league.
With all three sets decided by less than four points, it was a tight battle throughout. Siena Heights held advantages in kills (44-34) and assists (41-31), while AQ was in front on blocks (6-5) and digs (30-27). Each team recorded six aces. The visiting Saints hit .278 offensively, while Aquinas connected at a .144 hitting percentage.
SHU scored the first five points of the match, but Aquinas rallied back and used a 5-0 run of its own to move in front 18-15.
Samee Teachworth provided two kills during that surge, while
Brooke Nicholson also added a kill. Back-to-back putaways from Nicholson and
Jenna Lee made it 20-17 in AQ's favor, but Siena Heights tied the score at 20-20. The teams would trade points and be tied again at points 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, but two final kills from the visitors would give SHU the 27-25 win.
Aquinas turned a 6-6 tie into a 10-7 lead early in the second set with a
Cassie Sustrich ace and a
Ryleigh Blough kill. The teams would be deadlocked at points 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 before Siena Heights jumped in front 19-16. SHU stayed ahead at 23-20 but
Abbi Perkins put down a kill to bring AQ within a point at 23-22. Consecutive kills from Siena Heights made it a 25-22 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
After a
Jenna Lee kill gave Aquinas an 11-10 advantage in the third set, Siena Heights scored the next five points to start a 10-2 run and take complete control. The lead swelled to 20-13 and although AQ pulled within three points late in the frame, one final kill ended the match in SHU's favor.
Teachworth led Aquinas in kills for the second match in a row, with 10 kills and five digs. Perkins posted seven kills and a pair of block assists, while Nicholson supplied five kills and was a part of three blocks.
Lee put down five kills and Blough added four kills and two block assists. Sustrich handed out 28 assists to go with four digs, three block assists, two kills, and two aces.
Jennifer Johnson supplied a team-high eight digs and added three assists, while
Julia Schweihofer served a pair of aces.
The Saints remain home for a rivalry match on Wednesday night (Sept. 21) against #23 Cornerstone. The crosstown rivals will serve at 7:00 p.m. in the Sturrus Center.
