Grand Rapids, Mich. — Saturday afternoon inside the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center was a special one, as the Aquinas Women's Volleyball team celebrated Senior Day and looked to secure at least a share of the WHAC regular-season championship. Coach Ryan Campbell's squad has been firing on all cylinders, showcasing depth, discipline, and dominance as the postseason approaches. While the Saints know they can't afford to overlook a scrappy Defiance Yellow Jackets team, there was an undeniable buzz around Coach Bo Court as this group remained focused not just on finishing the conference slate strong, but on raising banners and making noise deep into the WHAC Tournament and NAIA postseason.

Aquinas 3, Defiance 1 (22–25, 25–15, 25–17, 25–10)

The Yellow Jackets came ready to compete and made the Saints earn every point early. Defiance's strong start saw them steal the opening set 25–22 and even hold a lead midway through the second, forcing Aquinas to dig deep and adjust. That's when the Saints' experience and poise took over. Setter Natalie West orchestrated the offense brilliantly, tallying 41 assists to fuel the turnaround, while outside hitter Lauren Chioini found her rhythm and delivered a match-high 19 kills on an impressive .342 hitting percentage. Cece Pelak added 12 kills and three service aces, giving the Saints a much-needed spark from the service line. With improved passing and blocking, AQ seized control and never looked back after taking the second set.

From that point forward, it was all Aquinas. The Saints dominated the third and fourth sets behind balanced offense and relentless defense. Middle hitters Nevaeh Bakker and Kate Schneider combined for 13 kills and seven total blocks, shutting down the Defiance attack at the net, while libero Bella Hommes anchored the back row with 25 digs. West's consistency and leadership steadied the team, and senior Jenna Lee added nine kills with a .444 hitting percentage to round out a powerful effort on Senior Day. The victory not only secured at least a share of the WHAC title but also extended AQ's win streak to 16 in conference play, emphasizing why this squad is among the best in the nation.

One of the day's most memorable moments came late in the match when Bella Hommes recorded her 2,000th career dig — a milestone immediately acknowledged by PA Announcer John Danielson, drawing a roar from the crowd and a heartfelt ovation from her teammates. Following the win, the Saints surrounded Hommes in celebration, honoring both her achievement and her leadership throughout her Aquinas career. It was a fitting cap to a Senior Day that perfectly captured the spirit, unity, and success of Coach Campbell's program.

By the Numbers
     • 2,000 – Career digs for senior libero Bella Hommes.
     • 41 – Assists recorded by setter Natalie West.
     • 19 – Kills from outside hitter Lauren Chioini, leading all players.
     • 12 – Kills and three aces from Cece Pelak.
     • 16 – Straight WHAC victories for the Saints.

Coach's Comments
Head Coach Ryan Campbell was proud of his team for, with four matches to go, already locking up a share of the WHAC title, and spoke glowingly about his seniors, who were honored today:
"I couldn't be more proud of this group — they've earned every bit of this success. Our seniors have set the standard for what Aquinas Volleyball is all about: hard work, accountability, and joy for the game. We've got unfinished business, but to see them celebrated today and to lock up a share of the WHAC title in front of our home crowd was really special."

Up Next
The regular-season home finale will take place on Wednesday evening when the Saints host Lawrence Tech, with a 7:00 PM start. The match will be streamed live on the AQ Sports Network, where Joey Sutherlin will provide the play-by-play. For more information, scores, and updates, visit aqsaints.com.