Grand Rapids, Mich. — Title Town has returned to the AQ campus as the Aquinas Saints Women's Volleyball team officially clinched the outright WHAC Championship with a 3–0 victory over Lawrence Tech on Saturday night inside the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center. It was a night filled with energy, emotion, and execution — a match that felt like unwrapping a long-awaited Christmas Eve present, only to realize the real celebration comes tomorrow. The Saints knew the first step toward their postseason goals began with checking off this milestone, and they did just that in commanding fashion.

Aquinas 3, Lawrence Tech 0 (25–18, 25–18, 25–20)

Aquinas took control early, hitting an impressive .429 in the opening set and never looking back. Cece Pelak led the charge with a match-high 14 kills, including the 500th of her Aquinas career — fittingly coming on the second-to-last point of the night. She got plenty of help from Lauren Chioini, who swung efficiently with 11 kills on .556 hitting, while Nevaeh Bakker was dominant at the net with 7 kills and 9 total blocks. Setter Natalie West ran a crisp offense with 33 assists and 6 block assists, keeping the Blue Devils off balance throughout. Mel Beachnau added five kills and a pair of solo blocks, and libero Bella Hommes anchored the back row with 19 digs, showcasing the poise and depth that has carried the Saints all season.

The Saints won the first two sets convincingly (25–18, 25–18) before closing the door 25–20 in the third, finishing the night with a stellar .290 team hitting percentage and out-blocking LTU 20–5. With the win, Aquinas improved to 25–5 overall and 16–0 in WHAC play, while Lawrence Tech dropped to 17–7 overall and 10–6 in conference.

By the Numbers
• .290 team hitting percentage
• 46 total digs by the Saints' defense
• 20 total team blocks (4 solo, 16 assists)
• 500th career kill — Cece Pelak

Coach's Comments
Head Coach Ryan Campbell reflected on the team's effort and milestone win:
"I couldn't be prouder of this group. They've stayed focused, battled through adversity, and embraced every challenge thrown their way. Clinching the WHAC title is a credit to their consistency and chemistry — but we all know the job isn't finished. We'll enjoy this moment, then get right back to work preparing for what's next."

Up Next
The regular season winds down quickly as the Saints hit the road on Friday, October 31, for one of their final three contests of the 2025 campaign. Aquinas will take on Rochester Christian in a 7:00 PM Halloween matchup. For more updates, stories, and scores, visit AQSaints.com.