Grand Rapids, Mich. - The No. 11 women's volleyball team is set to host the semifinals and finals of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) tournament after their win over UM-Dearborn. This win marks the Saints' 29th consecutive win giving them a strong start to the tournament. 

Aquinas 3, UM-Dearborn 0 (13-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-16)

UM-Dearborn started strong, quickly taking a 7-2 lead over the Saints. However, a powerful block by Mallory Keller and Lauren Chioini, followed by a block from Mel Beachnau and Chioini, forced the Wolverines into errors, narrowing the gap to 7-4. Despite the Saints' defensive efforts, a few errors and key kills from UM-Dearborn allowed the Wolverines to extend their lead to 15-7. Lydia Harper landed a kill off a Jenna Lee assist, but Aquinas still trailed 17-11. UM-Dearborn went on a five-point run to reach 24-12, and though Lee managed to drop another kill, the Saints ultimately dropped the first set 25-13. 

Fired up for the second set, the Saints came out swinging, stringing together four consecutive points, highlighted by two kills from Keller, a kill from Chioini, and an ace from Harper to jump ahead 5-2. Building on this momentum, Aquinas scored seven more points for a 14-5 advantage, featuring four service aces from Audrey Gil and kills by Chioini and Samee Teachworth. Michelle Domey added a kill, pushing the Saints' lead to 16-10. Back-to-back kills from Keller, Chioini, and Beachnau extended the score to 22-13. A massive kill by Domey, set up by Bella Hommes, sealed the second set for Aquinas at 25-16.

The Saints took an early lead in the third set, stringing together three kills for a 5-3 edge. UM-Dearborn countered with four straight points to retake the lead 7-5, but a kill from Chioini and a block from Teachworth and Harper tied things up at 7-7. Domey's kill and Madison Lawson's ace put Aquinas back on top 10-8. The Saints then went on a four-point run, with Keller landing a kill and Hommes serving up an ace. A pair of UMD errors, combined with a block assist from Lawson and Chioini, stretched the Saints' lead to 21-12. Teachworth's kill closed out the set at 25-16.

Aquinas kept the momentum in the fourth set, quickly jumping to a 3-1 lead with kills from Chioini and Lee. Keller added two more kills, and an ace from Gil helped push the Saints to a 7-4 advantage. A six-point run, fueled by kills from Lawson and Chioini and an ace from Harper, gave Aquinas a 16-9 cushion. The Saints sealed the match with the final four points, with Teachworth's kill delivering the 25-16 set victory.

By the Numbers

• The Saints dominated the aces claiming nine over UMD's four

• AQ towered over the blocks putting up 13

• Chioini claimed six blocks and ten kills, hitting .643

• Harper added 36 assists to her total and hit .667

• Gil claimed give service aces

• Aquinas is set to host the semifinals and finals 

By the Numbers 

The Saints will be on their home court at 7 p.m. Friday (Nov. 15) for the semifinals to face off against Lawrence Tech.