Southfield, Mich. – The (RV) Aquinas men's volleyball team traveled across the state to take on the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils for the second time this season. The Saints entered the match tonight on a four-match losing streak and were looking to get back into the win column tonight. Both teams came into the match with a 9-6 conference record with the winning team taking sole control over fourth place in the WHAC.

After three sets, the Saints trailed 2-1 in the match after set scores of 17-25, 25-23, and 15-25. However, AQ rallied to take the next two sets by scores of 25-21 and 15-10 to give the visiting Saints a thrilling five-set victory.

This victory improved AQ's record to 11-12 on the season with a 10-6 conference record. Lawrence Tech falls to 15-9 on the season with a 9-7 WHAC record. The Saints now hold sole custody of fourth place in the WHAC standings. Mount Vernon Nazarene is one match ahead of Aquinas with an 11-5 record in the standings.

LTU started the first set hot to take a quick 3-0 lead. The Blue Devils followed the 3-0 run with three consecutive errors to give the Saints the next three points to tie the set early on.

Errors continued to plague the home side to give Aquinas a slim advantage. A huge Gil kill from Chase Gil put the Saints ahead 8-6. However, LTU went on to claim nine of the next 12 points to take a 15-11 advantage and force AQ to use its first timeout of the set.

AQ took the next two points coming out of the timeout, but the Blue Devils managed to maintain a slim advantage. With LTU holding a 20-17 lead, the home side claimed the ensuing five points to win the first set 25-17.

Lawrence Tech continued its momentum into the second set to take the first two points. Similar to the first set, errors helped the Saints get back into the set, giving AQ a 4-0 run. Kills from Julian Armendano and Carter Sabo kept the Saints in the lead with the score at 6-4.

A series of runs began on the subsequent point as LTU went on a 4-0 run to retake the lead. AQ responded with a 5-1 run that featured kills from Armendano, Gil, and Joshua Boothroyd. The two teams continued to go back and forth as a kill from Alexander Rodriguez gave the Saints a 17-14 advantage.

LTU responded with a 3-0 run to tie the match at 17 with the suspense building inside of the Don Ridler Field House. The suspense continued to build as the two teams traded the ensuing six points to tie the set at 20-20. However, three consecutive errors from the Blue Devils put the Saints in control of the set with a 23-20 advantage.

The Blue Devils tried to erase the deficit late, but a service error and a huge kill from Armendano ended the second set 25-23 in favor of AQ.

Aquinas took that positive momentum from the second set into the third set, going ahead 5-1 to begin the set. LTU began to slowly erase the AQ lead and eventually did so after a 6-0 run gave the home side a 13-9 advantage. Boothroyd ended the run with a kill, but LTU immediately regained control of another run to claim a 16-10 lead.

The Saints couldn't find a way to slow down the Blue Devils as the home team marched out to a 25-15 victory in the third set to claim a 2-1 match lead.

With the Saints needing to win the fourth set, Armendano and Boothroyd began to take over the set. The pair of outside hitters claimed six of AQ's first nine points to help establish a 9-8 advantage.

The set remained close, but Armendano continued to slam the ball into the hardwood to keep Aquinas ahead. Another three kills and a solo block from the senior outside hitter helped keep AQ out in front 16-14.

Both teams began trading points as AQ held a slim lead heading down the stretch of the fourth set. The two sides traded the ensuing 13 points with AQ barely out in front 22-21. However, Boothroyd and Armendano claimed the next three points for AQ to give the Saints a much-needed 25-21 victory in the fourth set.

Armendano racked up ten kills in the fourth set alone. Boothroyd also had a great set with five kills himself as the two combined for 15 kills in the set.

The tandem of Armendano and Boothroyd continued to dominate at the beginning of the fifth and final set. The two combined for AQ's first four points to put the Saints ahead 4-2. A block from Rodriguez and Armendano, an ace from Scott Hopkins, and an error from LTU had the Saints out in front 7-2.

Several points later, Aquinas held a commanding 10-3 advantage and the set appeared to be easily in under control for the Saints. However, LTU gave AQ a scare after taking the ensuing five points to narrow the deficit to just two points.

AQ settled down and a pair of kills from Boothroyd put AQ ahead 13-10. A rare triple block from Gil, Sabo, and Boothroyd gave AQ a match-point opportunity. Sabo and Gil came back on that very next point to put down another block to win the match for the Saints with a 15-10 victory in the fifth set.

The stats for the match were split between the two teams. AQ had the advantage in kills (52-46), hitting percentage (.120-.116), and assists (50-39). LTU had more aces (5-4), blocks (12-8), and digs (56-52).

Armendano ended the match with a match-leading 21 kills (.148) on 54 swings. He also had one solo block, four block assists, and 12 digs.

Boothroyd finished the night with 15 kills, two assists, one ace, two block assists, and nine digs.

Leo-Paul Rousseau finished a solid match with 47 assists and a team-high 14 digs.

Up next on the schedule for the Saints is two matches against Saint Mary's of the Woods this weekend. AQ is set to take on Saint Mary's on Friday (Mar. 24) and Saturday (Mar. 25).