Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Aquinas women's volleyball team turned back the clock with a packed house for 90's Night, and the Saints gave the crowd plenty to cheer about. Decked out in retro gear and fueled by a raucous home atmosphere, Aquinas rolled past Rochester Christian in straight sets, securing a 3–0 victory to remain perfect in WHAC play at 8–0.

AQ 3, RCU 0 (25–14, 25–19, 25–11)

The Saints wasted no time setting the tone in the opening frame, racing out to a 6–2 lead behind two kills from Lauren Chioini and a service ace from Natalie West. A five-point surge pushed the margin to 11–3, highlighted by an ace from Bella Hommes and kills from Mel Beachnau and Michelle Domey. Aquinas doubled the lead to 18–9 on a Julia Schweihofer ace and a Beachnau kill, then sealed the 25–14 win on a block by Nevaeh Bakker and West.

Set two opened with back-to-back kills from Cece Pelak before Rochester Christian clawed back to tie at 7–7. Aquinas quickly regained control as Chioini and Pelak powered the offense. The Saints strung together five straight points late in the frame, keyed by two aces from Hommes and a kill from Pelak, to grab a 20–16 edge. Beachnau and Chioini combined for a block to close out the 25–19 win.

Aquinas came out firing in the third set, building an 8–2 cushion with kills from Jeralyn Hoppes and Pelak. The Saints then unleashed their longest run of the night — a seven-point burst featuring kills from Chioini, Pelak, and Beachnau — blowing the set open at 19–6. Hoppes hammered down the final kill to cap a dominant 25–11 finish.

By the Numbers

·         Pelak led the attack with 13 kills, while Beachnau added 9 and Chioini chipped in 9 of her own.

·         Hommes was lethal from the service line, racking up 5 aces.

·         Beachnau and Chioini anchored the net with 3 blocks apiece.

·         West orchestrated the offense with 36 assists and added 3 aces.

·         Aquinas hit .350 as a team while piling up 11 service aces without surrendering one.

Coach's Comments
Head Coach Ryan Campbell praised both his team's execution and the lively home atmosphere:
"Tonight was a perfect example of what happens when our players feed off the energy of the crowd. 90's Night brought out one of the best environments we've had, and the team responded with focus and intensity. We're continuing to improve each match, and nights like this remind us how special it is to compete at home."

90's Night Atmosphere
The Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center was buzzing with nostalgia as fans were greeted with slap bracelets and sunglasses at the door, while high school teams, AQVB alumni, summer campers, and "Reps with Ryan" participants enjoyed free admission. The evening began with a ceremonial serve from Aquinas Athletic Director Damon Bouwkamp — which went straight into the net, drawing laughs from the crowd. Fortunately, he's not the one running serve drills for the team.

Player introductions followed in dramatic fashion, set to Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, with spotlights tracking each Saint as sunglasses were tossed into the stands. Between sets, the AQ dance team kept the fun rolling with giveaways, beach balls, and a routine that pumped up the crowd. High school teams and youth campers were recognized throughout the evening, while best dressed and best sign contests added to the fun with prizes and plenty of cheers. By the time the closing notes of Closing Time rang out, the night had perfectly blended retro fun with dominant volleyball.

Up Next
Aquinas will have little time to celebrate the victory, as the Saints return to WHAC play this weekend with back-to-back home matches. AQ hosts UM-Dearborn on Friday night (Oct. 3) at 7:00 PM, followed by Madonna on Saturday (Oct. 4) at 2:00 PM inside the Sturrus Center. Both matches will be streamed live on the AQ Sports Network with Joey Sutherlin on the call. For more information, scores, and updates, visit aqsaints.com.