The Aquinas women's volleyball team notched its sixth and seventh consecutive victories – making it 13 wins in the last 14 matches – by sweeping Kuyper and Lourdes on Friday (Oct. 13) in the Sturrus Center. AQ made quick work of non-conference opponent Kuyper before earning its second 3-0 win over Lourdes in the last month.
 
With the doubleheader sweep, AQ is now 22-4 on the year and 10-1 in conference play. 12 of the Saints' 22 victories are of the 3-0 variety, while Aquinas improves to 11-2 at home in 2023.
 
3-0 win over Kuyper (25-4, 25-11, 25-8)
 
The Saints needed less than an hour to top the visiting Cougars (3-14), the non-conference foe from Grand Rapids. AQ dominated in every facet of the match, totaling 28 kills and a .308 hitting percentage. The Saints served up an incredible 20 aces in the three-set win, with seven coming from Julia Schweihofer, five from Taylor Reha, and four from Kaylin Poole.
 
Defensively, Aquinas forced Kuyper into 23 hitting errors and a -.212 attack clip, while the visitors collected just nine kills. Tess Griffith led AQ with nine kills in 19 swings, hitting .421, while Audrey Gil added six kills in 15 attempts and added seven digs and a pair of aces. Schweihofer's eight digs were also team-high, in addition to her team-best seven aces. 
 
Ryleigh Blough chipped in five kills in only nine swings and posted four block assists. Reha handed out 10 assists, while Cassie Sustrich dished out eight helpers to go with two aces.
 
3-0 win over Lourdes (25-15, 25-17, 25-16)
 
The Gray Wolves (2-15 overall, 2-10 WHAC) held a 9-8 lead in the opening set before AQ rattled off 17 of the next 23 points. That included a 7-0 run and the final three points from a Samee Teachworth kill, a combined block from Jenna Lee and Lauren Chioini, and a Jordyn Carlyle ace. 
 
AQ used a 9-1 surge in the middle of the second set to move in front 17-8 and eventually cruise to the 25-17 win. Late kills from Michelle Domey, Lee, and Chioini sealed the victory. The Saints put together a pair of 4-0 runs and a separate 5-0 spurt in the third frame to pull away and finish off the match. Teachworth teamed with Domey and then Harper on back-to-back combined rejections, which were followed by a Chloe Hogarth ace and a Harper kill to end the contest.
 
Aquinas hit a sparkling .362 with 42 kills and just eight errors. After recording 20 aces in the opener against Kuyper, the Saints served up 12 more aces – including six from Carlyle. She added 11 digs, tying Hogarth for team-high honors. Harper notched 32 assists, eight digs, five kills, and four total blocks (two solo). AQ held a 10-2 edge in total blocks and a 12-4 advantage in service aces.
 
Abbi Perkins led all players with 12 kills and a .375 hitting percentage, while Domey hit .421 and connected for nine kills and one error. She added six digs and three block assists. Lee supplied six kills, while Chioini and Teachworth added five kills and four block assists apiece. 
 
The Saints return to Sturrus on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. against Siena Heights. AQ outlasted SHU on Sept. 15 in Adrian thanks to a 15-11 fifth set triumph.