Sioux City, Iowa – In an intense five-set battle, the No. 11 Aquinas Saints came up just short against No. 8 Corban University, falling 3-2 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The match showcased incredible grit and determination from both teams, with the Saints pushing the second-seeded Corban Warriors to their limits. The conclusion of this match marks the end of an incredible season from the Saints as they finish 40-3.
Aquinas 2, Corban 3 (25-27, 13-25, 28-26, 25-16, 11-15)
The Saints struck first in the opening set with a block from Samee Teachworth and Lydia Harper stopping Corban University's (CU) attack. AQ pulled ahead with a 6-2 lead after a series of Warrior errors, a kill from Harper, and a block by Lauren Chioini and Angelia Cutts. Back-to-back kills from Cutts and Teachworth extended the lead to 10-6. A kill by Mallory Keller and an ace from Bella Hommes kept the Saints ahead at 14-8. The Warriors responded with two scoring runs, overtaking the lead at 19-16. Aquinas fought back with three points, capped by a kill from Jenna Lee, to regain a 23-22 advantage. However, CU pushed the set into extra points and claimed a 27-25 victory.
In the second set, kills from Teachworth and Chioini gave AQ a 2-0 start, but the Warriors countered with a six-point run to go up 9-3. Kills from Chioini and Harper closed the gap briefly, but CU extended their lead to 14-7. A five-point push from the Warriors widened the margin to 21-10. Madison Lawson added two late kills for the Saints, but Corban finished the set 25-13.
Fired up for the third set, the Saints opened with a 4-0 lead behind two aces from Cece Pelak and a kill from Lee. CU responded with nine straight points to take a 9-4 lead. The Saints rallied with a seven-point surge, including three kills from Harper, a kill by Keller, and an ace from Audrey Gil, tying the set at 14-14. Kills by Lawson and Keller, along with an ace from Harper, gave AQ a 17-15 edge. The teams traded points before three consecutive Saints points set up set point at 24-23. CU extended the set, but a kill by Keller and a Warrior attack error secured the Saints a 28-26 win.
The fourth set saw Corban jump ahead 5-1, but the Saints tied it 5-5 with a four-point run. The teams traded points until a five-point streak by AQ gave them an 18-15 advantage. Kills from Lawson and Lee, along with another ace by Hommes, extended the lead to 22-15. Teachworth and Chioini contributed kills to bring up set point, and a final block from Lee and Chioini sealed the 25-16 win, forcing a fifth set.
In the deciding set, kills by Teachworth and Lawson gave AQ an early 4-2 lead. However, CU scored six straight points to pull ahead 8-4. Two aces from Gil brought the Saints within one at 9-10, but CU answered with three points to reach set point. A final kill by the Warriors ended the set 15-11, closing the Saints' season.
By the Numbers
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Keller was the kill leader claiming 17 followed by Teachworth with 12 and Chioini with 10
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Lawson hit a remarkable .500
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Harper earned 40 assists
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Hommes added 17 digs
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This marks the furthest the Saints have advanced in the National Tournament