Grand Rapids, MI - The (RV) Aquinas women's volleyball remained undefeated after their victories today (Aug. 28) against Saint Xavier and Goshen. Aquinas was able to take their first match of the day in four sets versus the Cougars. The Saints then showed up to play for a second match and delivered a dominating three-set sweep over the Maple Leafs. 

Aquinas' 8-0 record is the longest undefeated start to a season in at least two decades. Tonight's triumphs have extended the Saint's 18-3 set record to an admirable 24-4 over the last eight matches. 

(RV) Aquinas 3, Saint Xavier 1 (25-27, 25-21, 25-15, 25-16) 

An attack error by the Cougars gave the Saints a quick 1-0 lead, but they were able to return the point quickly tying the set at 1-1. With the help of a service ace from Jenna Lee, Aquinas was able to expand the lead to 3-1, before Saint Xavier went unanswered for three points.  SXU was able to push three additional three-point runs in the set, expanding their lead to 13-9. After an AQ timeout, the Saints were able to rally four two points with help from a kill from Samee Teachworth. Aquinas was able to push back and advance the set past regulation but could not take the lead and Saint Xavier took the set 27-25. 

The Cougars were able to take a quick jump on the second set, capturing a 6-1 lead against the sets. A kill by Lauren Chioini and a service ace by Lydia Harper helped the Saints close the gap. Big blocks from Mel Beachnau and Chioini, along with a couple of errors from SXU further aided the Saints, bringing the score to 7-6. Saint Xavier persisted and was able to score five more points before AQ made some adjustments. The Saints went on to have their own three-point run before going unanswered for five points with a kill from Jeralyn Hoppes and a service ace from Lee. Three more kills and a set error allowed Aquinas to take the lead 21-17. A few errors from SXU and a big kill from Cece Pelak allowed the Saints to scrape out a win for the second set. 

Aquinas came fired up for the third set as they quickly took a 4-0 lead, with kills from Teachworth, Chioini, and a service ace from Julia Schweihofer. The Cougars tacked on two of their own points before another service ace from Harper, a kill from Hoppes and an attack error stretched the lead to 7-2. Saint Xavier continued giving AQ a run for its money before the Saints put the pedal to the metal late in the set. Attack errors from the Cougars paired with kills from Chioini and Pelak gave the Saints a 5-0 run to extend the lead to 21-12. Powerful blocks by Teachworth, Harper, and another kill by Pelak sealed the third-set victory, 25-15.

Rolling their moment over from the third set, Aquinas hit the ground running and secured a 5-0 lead over the Cougars. SXU was able to combat this with a few points of their own before the Saints went on another 3-0 run to keep pushing their lead. A few attack errors from Saint Xavier and a kill by Pelak brought the score to 12-4. The Cougars were able to chip away at the lead and bring themselves within five points but kills from Beachnau and Pelak left them trailing once again. The Saints were able to finish off the fourth set with a potent nine-point advantage, to lead by a score of 25-16.

By the Numbers 

• Aquinas dominated the blocks, leading 11-2. 
• AQ also led the game in points (70-50), kills (51-40), assists (50-39), hitting percentage (.294 - .122), and digs (50-48). 
• Harper was able to rack up 38 assists, eight kills, and six block assists. 
• Teachworth led the Saints in kills, totaling 11 in the match while tagging on six total blocks. 

(RV) Aquinas 3, Goshen 0 (25-7, 25-15, 25-20) 

Set one against the Maple Leafs began with the Saints leading 2-0 after a pair of errors by Goshen. A kill from Lee alongside a service ace and a kill from Harper extended AQ's lead to 5-2. A few kills by the Maple Leafs put them right back in the set, until Aquinas was able to go on another 4-0 run, making the score 9-4. The Saints brought down the hammer to finish the set off by going unanswered for 14 straight points. In this series, Lee tallied 4 aces, Teachworth had three kills, and Harper coined two kills. The set ended with a dominating score of 25-7. 

Goshen was able to score two points to start off the second set, which was later matched with a 4-0 run by the Saints bringing the score to 6-4. Aquinas was able to unleash an eight-point run as a result of four kills by Madison Lawson, a service ace from Hoppes, and kills from Lee and Chioini. Late in the second set, Aquinas was able to put it away with a 5-0 run and an attack error from the Maple Leafs. The Saints took this set 25-15. 

Carrying its drive over, Aquinas started the third set off strong, racking up a four-point lead. Reagan Doctor was able to come in for the Saints and put down two kills followed by another kill from Lee. Jayla Martin, Angelia Cutts, and Arianna Black were also able to find their first kills of the season and Bella Hommes recorded her 1,000th career dig. 
The Saints finished out their set strong with a 25-20 win over Goshen to end the match 3-0. 

By the Numbers 

• Aquinas dominated across the board having ten aces, eight blocks, and 37 kills. 
• Lee and Harper tallied 4 aces each. 
• Hommes recorded 16 digs, putting her at over 1,000 in her career. She also had 6 assists and one service ace.  
• Harper had an incredible .636 hitting percentage to lead the team in kills (7).
• Aquinas is now 24-4 in sets won, with nine of these sets being won by 10 points or more.