Grand Rapids, MI — The (RV) Aquinas women's volleyball team traveled down to Adrian, Michigan, on Friday (Aug. 30) for the Siena Heights Labor Day Invitational. The Saints faced off against No.1-ranked Indiana Wesleyan and Spring Arbor. AQ nearly dethroned IWU, but the Wildcats managed a comeback and took the contest to a resounding fifth set. The second match saw the Saints fall early to the Cougars of Spring Arbor, but AQ marched their way back and took the following three sets.
The conclusion of the day of play brings the Saints overall to 9-1.
#1 Indiana Wesleyan 3, (RV) Aquinas 2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-12)
Aquinas hit the floor running by getting an early 4-0 lead over IWU as a result of an attack error, two kills by Mallory Keller, and a kill by Lydia Harper. The Wildcats then went on a run of their own going unanswered for four points tying the score at 5-5. Indiana Wesleyan and Aquinas volleyed points back and forth in this close match-up. The Saints came up big at the end of the first set as they mounted a six-point run which garnered them a 23-20 lead. This 6-0 run was brought to light by a five-serve series by Jenna Lee which included an ace, two kills by Samee Teachworth, and another kill by Keller. AQ earned the set by finishing it with a kill by Harper, assisted by Bella Hommes, 25-23.
Starting the second set the Wildcats were able to put down the first point, which was quickly met by two of our own after an attack error and a service ace by Julia Schweihofer. AQ brought the heat once again with another 5-0 run where Lauren Chioini, Keller, and Madison Lawson all pounded it into the floor stretching the lead to 8-2. The two teams found themselves trading points once again, the next breakthrough was a four-point run with help from Teachworth and a service ace by Chloe Hogarth. IWU responded to this as a four-point run over their own, bringing the set within one point, 20-19. Lawson delivered big at the end of the set, scoring the winning point ending it 25-22.
Teachworth started the third set with a kill, but the Wildcats fought back and had a four-point run that was ended with a kill by Chioini. The Saints found their wind late in the set and notched three points, bringing them back within three points, sitting at 14-17. Just a few set points later, Aquinas put down another quick three. Unfortunately, the Wildcats went on their own run and finished this set at 25-21.
Indiana Wesleyan carried over their energy and began the fourth set with a 4-0 lead that quickly turned to a 6-1 difference. AQ battled back to a two-point disadvantage of 7-5 with kills by Keller and Chioini. This set remained tooth and nail after a few attack errors from the Saints that widened their deficit to 14-8. IWU was able to maintain its lead, ending the set 25-21.
The energy was high as the Saints took an early 3-1 lead to start the fifth set after crushing kills by Mel Beachnau and Harper. After taking the two previous sets, IWU maintained its energetic bounce and had a 5-0 run, broadening its lead to 10-5. Two huge kills by Keller and a service ace by Hogarth brought the Saints right back into the final set, tying the score 11-11. Aquinas battled hard against IWU, but the Wildcats prevailed and took the set 15-12, ending Aquinas' undefeated streak.
By the Numbers
- Keller had an astounding 24 kills.
- This is the sixth time IWU and AQ have met, Aquinas is yet to best the team.
- Hommes collected 19 digs and nine assists
- The Saints were able to tally 6 aces
(RV) Aquinas 3, Spring Arbor 1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-15, 26-24)
After an extended fifth-set battle with IWU, the Saints had a small break before returning to play against the Cougars of Spring Arbor. SAU took advantage of Aquinas's long-winded contest and managed to pull away in the first. AQ rallied themselves back together and began chase of the Cougars. The two teams battled back and forth until they met at 14-15 where the Saints went on a four-point run with aid from Keller's three kills. Rallying once again, Aquinas was able to take a 19-17 lead. Unfortunately, the Cougars bounced back and pounced out a two-point differential to take the set 25-23.
SAU was still feeling the frenzy as play entered the second set. The Cougars continued to challenge the Saints until AQ returned with an exclamation point of a run, placing them with a five-point advantage (19-14). Spring Arbor managed to claw back the difference, but it wasn't enough as Aquinas took the set 25-20. Bringing the contest to a 1-1 standing.
Entering the third, the Cougars kept up with the Saints. The score read 6-7, but AQ mustered another dominant run as they upped the score to 13-8. The run saw services by Ki'i Rilveria and Hogarth, and combination plays from Harper and Chioini. Aquinas then found another run, this time with service by Bella Hommes, bringing the lead to 18-10. The Saints continued to find strides in the set as they punched it in with a score line of 25-15.
The fourth period of play saw the contest once again tighten. AQ looked to finish the bout while SAU was trying to hold on to the possibility of another five-set ringer. The teams were neck-and-neck and remained close to one another, only separating for about a point from one another. Aquinas found the first key separation at the score line of 19-15. The Saints continued their fourth set finishing crawl by pushing to 22-17. But the Cougars dug in and jumped off their hind legs in a late fourth set rally, bringing the set to a 23-21 difference in favor of Aquinas. AQ inched forward as they collected one more point to make it 24-21. Here SAU scoured the reserves and fought back to tie the set to 24-24. On the cusp of another entry to a fifth set frame, the combination sensation of Harper and Teachworth would push AQ through to take the set with two resounding back-to-back kills. Aquinas stamped the match with a 3-1 finish.
By the Numbers
- Keller led the team with 26 kills, followed by Chioini (8), and Pelak (7)
- Harper led the way in the ace department with five, as Hogarth and Hommes tally up with one.
- Lawson was a show of force at the net as she notched three blocks, Keller found two, and Pelak anted in with one.
- Harper continued her set play skills as she collected 49 assists.
- The Aquinas back line showed grit as three Saints tallied double-digit digs, Hommes (16), Schweihofer (13), and Hogarth (10).
- AQ had 66 kills to SAU's 40.
Up Next
The team will return to play at home at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday (Sep. 4) as they begin conference play with the Crusaders of Madonna.
