Rochester Hills, Mich. — The Aquinas women's volleyball team traveled to Rochester Hills on Wednesday (Nov. 1) for their final away match of the regular season. This was the second time this season the two have matched up. Aquinas swept in the first meeting, and would go on to sweep the second. Aquinas improved their season record with this conference win to 28-7 overall (15-4 WHAC).

The win clinched the No. 2 seed for the Saints in the upcoming WHAC Tournament.

The first set would see AQ and Rochester battle it back and forth, Rochester would find themselves ahead in the first stretch 11-9. But Abbi Perkins would land a kill and get possession back for the Saints. Aquinas make a total run of five points, with service by Jennifer Johnson, including two back-to-back aces.

Aquinas would find themselves up 17-12 and would take an offensive timeout. AQ and Rochester would trade points back and forth until the Saints would take the first set 25-21.

In the second set, Aquinas established an early 6-1 lead. The Saints would forfeit two points on errors, but went on to regain possession and jumped out to a comfortable 10-3 advantage. 

Rochester called a timeout and hoped they could regroup. But AQ would keep pushing with three consecutive points to go up 13-3. Rochester would bounce back for a 16-8 difference. But the Saints pushed the envelope to 19-8. This resulted in Rochester's second timeout.

Here the Warriors would find some footing but AQ had established too large of a lead, Aquinas went on to take the set 25-16.

AQ still feeling loose made two early streaks to start out the third set, 5-1 then 10-4. This six point difference pinned the Warriors into a timeout. Rochester would capitalize after claiming four of the next five points, making it 11-8. But AQ stole the energy back with a kill from Cece Pelak, which lead to a serving spree by Jordyn Carlyle who bounced in two aces back-to-back, claiming three points in her service.

The two teams traded points in pairs until the set found itself at 18-12. AQ finishes the set 25-12, and the match 3-0.

Perkins led AQ in the kills department with 14, Lauren Chioini and Samee Teachworth each had nine. Carlyle served up four aces, Julia Schweihofer tapped in with three, while Johnson ran it in with two. 

The Saints dominated the net as Chioini and Perkins tagged in with five blocks each, Teachworth was right behind with four. Lydia Harper dished out 36 assists. 

Peyton Goschka and Harper tied each other with digs at 15, while Carlyle was a step behind with 13.

Aquinas is in action Friday (Nov. 3) at home against Lawrence Tech for its final contest of the regular season. This will be AQ's Senior Night, celebratory festivities to occur before the 7 p.m. opening serve.