Mount Vernon, Ohio – The No. 14-ranked AQ men's volleyball squad was back in action tonight (Jan. 28) for the second match of the series against Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The Cougars got the best of the Saints last night (Jan. 27) when they pulled off an upset against the nationally ranked Aquinas side. History did not repeat itself tonight as the Saints picked up a massive victory in a 3-2 thriller. AQ won the back-and-forth matchup by set scores of 26-24, 17-25, 25-16, 13-25, and 15-12.

Aquinas improves to 1-1 on the season with an identical 1-1 record in the WHAC. Inversely, Mount Vernon drops to 1-1 on the year with a 1-1 conference record.

The home side started off the match hot, taking a quick 10-4 advantage. The two sides traded 3-0 runs back-and-forth, but Mount Vernon remained in the lead with a 13-10 advantage. Both teams traded points as the first set was nearing a close with MVNU maintaining a 21-16 lead.

However, Aquinas proceeded to flip the script and took the next five points that included a pair of kills from Joshua Boothroyd and a kill from Julian Armendano. Mount Vernon used its first timeout in an attempt to quell the AQ momentum. The timeout was effective as the Cougars scored three of the next four points to take a 24-22 lead and force set point.

Last night, Aquinas held a 24-22 lead in the first set and Mount Vernon rallied back to win. Tonight, it was AQ's turn. A block from Leo-Paul Rousseau and Chase Gil, followed by an error, an ace from Rousseau, and a kill from Boothroyd gave AQ a crucial first set victory.

Mount Vernon turned the tides in the second set, jumping out to an early lead. A 4-0 run from the home side halfway through the set gave MVNU a 16-9 advantage and forced AQ to use its first timeout. However, Mount Vernon maintained the pace out of the timeout as the Saints quickly found themselves trailing 22-13. AQ managed to pull a few points back, but the deficit was too large to overcome, giving the Cougars a 25-17 win in the second set and tying the match at one.

As would be the nature of this match, Aquinas took control of the momentum early in the third set with a massive 6-0 run that featured two aces from Armendano. Mount Vernon failed to find a foothold in the set as the Saints raced out to a huge win in the third set. The combination of Armendano and Boothroyd took over in the third set, propelling AQ to a quick 25-16 third set win. The two combined for nine kills during the set.

The fourth set began even with both teams putting together several runs. The Cougars held a slim 14-11 lead at the midway point of the set. However, MVNU put together the largest run of the match with a huge 8-0 run that gave them a 22-11 advantage. That run all but secured a fourth set victory and forced the match to an all-important fifth and final set.

Neither side was willing to back down in the fifth set as the two teams traded the first ten points of the set with the score tied at five. A kill from Boothroyd and an attack error from the Cougars moved the score needle to 7-5 and forced MVNU to use its first timeout. The timeout didn't work as intended for MNVU as Armendano and Boothroyd each picked up another kill to give AQ a 9-5 advantage.

After an error from Armendano, Boothroyd responded with another kill. However, the home team put down a couple of kills and narrowed the deficit to just two points, forcing a timeout from head coach, Michael Crane.

Mount Vernon came within one point following the timeout after an Aquinas error. Boothroyd remained clutch and slammed down a kill to maintain the AQ lead. A massive block from Gil and Boothroyd gave AQ a 12-10 lead. Gil moved the lead to three after he put down a massive kill late in the set. Two points later, Armendano picked up his 21st point of the match and forced match point. The cougars got one point back, but an error ended the match in favor of the Saints in a thriller.

AQ was much-improved tonight, leading in numerous statistical categories. Aquinas held the advantage in kills (51-46), hitting percentage (.221-.117), assists (51-44), and digs (49-42). MVNU had more aces (9-6) and both teams have seven blocks.

Armendano and Boothroyd combined for a whopping 38 of the teams' 51 kills tonight, as the two put down 21 (.173) and 17 (.371) kills, respectively. Armendano also had three aces, a block assist, and nine digs. In addition to his 17 kills on an impressive .371 hitting percentage, Boothroyd had two aces, two block assists, and eight digs.

Gil put together an impressive performance, tallying nine kills on an incredible .467 hitting percentage.

Rousseau also played well from the setter position as he racked up 50 assists, one ace, two block assists, and eight digs.

The Saints have a quick turnaround as they take on crosstown rival Cornerstone University on Tuesday (Jan. 31). The match is set to begin at 7:00 PM inside Mol Arena.