Salem, Ore. – The Aquinas women's volleyball team put up a fight in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament, but ran into the defending national runner-up on its home court on Saturday evening (Nov. 18). #7 Corban eventually prevailed over Aquinas, as the Saints fell by scores of 17-25, 18-25, and 23-25. 
 
For the second time in the last four seasons, Aquinas advanced to the NAIA National Tournament, but Corban proved to be too strong. AQ's season ends with an outstanding 31-9 record. 
 
A powerhouse on the west coast, Corban is a familiar face on the national scene. The Warriors lost the 2022 national championship by a 15-13 score in the fifth set and will make its eighth consecutive trip to the National Tournament final site. Corban is 27-6 after Saturday's win.
 
The Saints stayed close to Corban defensively; the Warriors held slight edges in digs (40-39) and blocks (8-5). Offensively is where CU was stronger on Saturday, as the Warriors hit .188 with 35 kills and Aquinas managed a .056 clip with 26 putaways.
 
Corban was also in front in assists (31-24) and aces (8-4).
 
The home Warriors jumped out to a fast start in front of their home crowd, pushing ahead 11-3 in the first set. Aquinas chipped away at the deficit on a kill from Samee Teachworth and a combined block from Lauren Chioini and Lydia Harper. The Saints pulled within 17-12 after consecutive kills from Jeralyn Hoppes and Teachworth and a Teachworth-Abbi Perkins rejection.
 
Jordyn Carlyle's ace made it 22-17, but Corban recorded the final three points to take the opening set.
 
In set two, Peyton Goschka served an ace and Chioini added a kill for an early 8-6 Aquinas lead. It was 10-10 after a Perkins kill, but Corban used an 8-2 run to regain the advantage. AQ battled back with a kill from Jenna Lee, followed by Chioini and Lee combining for a big block. The 19-17 score forced the Warriors into a timeout. CU answered back by scoring the next five points and taking the set, 25-18.
 
Corban jumped ahead 8-2 in the third, but Aquinas would chip away. Another Perkins-Teachworth block drew the Saints closer at 11-8, but the Warriors would pull in front, 16-12. From there, AQ scored five straight points which included a Harper ace and a Chioini kill for the 17-16 advantage.
 
The Saints trailed 22-20, but Harper notched a kill and the Warriors committed an error for a 22-22 deadlock. CU totaled three of the next four points to claim the set and match in the 3-0 victory.
 
Teachworth led Aquinas with eight kills and three block assists, while Perkins and Chioini each recorded six kills and two blocks. 
 
Harper totaled 23 assists and seven digs, while Carlyle picked up nine digs. Goschka added eight digs and Jennifer Johnson picked up seven for the Saints.
 
This year's 31-win campaign was the seventh 30-win season for AQ in program history. Since 1996, Aquinas has won 30 or more matches in a season just twice: 2018 and 2023. AQ finished as WHAC runner-up in both the regular season and tournament and made its fourth national tournament appearance in school history.