Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Saints battled against another receiving votes side today as the Indiana Tech Warriors were next on the agenda today (Mar. 2). Tech earned a 3-0 result, but the Saints played very well today despite the outcome. Aquinas led the Warriors in digs (32-30) and continues to improve from the service line, recording seven aces today.

Indiana Tech proved that they will, once again, be one of the top teams in the conference, improving to 13-1 this season.

Indiana Tech 3, Aquinas 0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-20)

The Saints looked great to start the match as Connor Staats and Noah Smith-Slosar both slammed down a pair of kills and Leo-Paul Rousseau picked up his first ace of the contest. A seasoned Warriors team responded with a bit of a run and AQ used an early timeout to regroup.

Coming out of the timeout, Staats recorded a pair of aces to help tie the match at 9-9. Tech scored the ensuing point and began to build a lead. Kills from Staats and Chase Gil kept the scoreline close until an 8-1 Warriors run put the visiting team ahead 23-14. Andrew Jones recorded a kill from the back row, but IT closed out the first set 25-15.

The second set followed a similar script. Indiana Tech scored the first four points, but AQ stayed with the Warriors for a significant portion of the set. A three-point run that included another Rousseau ace had the Saints only down by two with the score at 15-13. However, a 6-2 run had Aquinas on its heels.

Ernesto Lopez, Staats, and Jones all recorded a kill to bring AQ back within three, but Tech closed out the set to take a 2-0 match lead.

Zachary Nosky entered the match for the first time to start the third set and instantly recorded the first two Aquinas kills. The Saints continued to battle into the third set, trading points with the Warriors until the score was tied at 12.

Another mid-set run from the Warriors proved to be AQ's undoing for the third consecutive set. Tech ripped off a six-point run, and Aquinas couldn't recover. A 6-1 run from the Saints at the end of the third set kept the score close, but the visitors ultimately closed out the match with a sweep.

By the Numbers

Aquinas played strong defensively and passed the ball well, recording 32 digs to IT's 30. The Saints also had seven aces to Tech's four. The big difference in the match was the blocks as Indiana Tech put down 13 blocks to AQ's four – with eight of those blocks occurring in the first set.

Staats ended the match with a team-high eight kills to pair with his two aces, one block assist, and four digs. Lopez was right behind him with seven kills and a team-leading eight digs.

Rousseau did a bit of everything, posting 23 assists, four aces, one solo block, and seven digs.

Up Next

The Saints will play their third match in five days on Tuesday (Mar. 5) in the battle of the Saints. AQ will take on Siena Heights in the Sturrus Center with a 7:00 p.m. start time.