Box Score Grand Rapids, Mich. — The 2025 AQ Saints women's volleyball team continues to prove that they are something special. This is a group that's maturing, improving, and coming together with one clear goal: capturing the WHAC title and earning a trip to nationals. While there's still work to be done — and no opponent can be overlooked — every week Coach Ryan Campbell's team shows more growth, chemistry, and poise. Saturday's matchup with Madonna was another chance to rise to the occasion, and the Saints did exactly that.
AQ 3, Madonna 0 (25–16, 25–17, 25–15)
From the first serve, Aquinas took control and never looked back. Behind a crisp offensive rhythm and relentless defense, the Saints hit an impressive .362 as a team while limiting the Crusaders to just a .090 attack percentage. Cece Pelak led the way with 15 kills on a dominant .542 clip, while Lauren Chioini added nine kills and a team-best four total blocks. Jeralyn Hoppes continued her strong form with eight kills, and Nevaeh Bakker added four more on .429 hitting efficiency.
Setter Natalie West once again ran the show with precision, distributing 30 assists while contributing five kills and four blocks of her own. Defensively, Bella Hommes anchored the back row with 11 digs and added four service aces, while Kami Morse and Ki'i Rilveria each tallied two aces to keep Madonna on its heels. Mel Beachnau provided three timely kills up front, and Julia Schweihofer chipped in three digs to help stabilize the Saints' defense throughout the match.
Aquinas showed its depth, confidence, and composure in every phase of play, taking down a Madonna team that had just beaten perennial WHAC contender Cornerstone the night before. The straight-set victory moves the Saints to 18-4 overall and 10-0 in WHAC play, remaining undefeated in conference action and continuing their rise as one of the hottest teams in the nation.
By the Numbers
Coach's Comments
Head Coach Ryan Campbell was impressed that his team brought their 'A' game and in three sets defeated a team that just the night before had downed the always difficult Cornerstone squad:
"We knew Madonna would be a tough test after their big win last night, but our players stepped up and executed the game plan perfectly. We served aggressively, passed with confidence, and controlled the pace from start to finish. It's great to see the team playing at this level, and the focus they showed today really speaks to the culture they've built."
Up Next
Wednesday, AQ will return to action with an odd double dip — two matches, not a tri — one evening, and one a conference battle. The Saints (18-4, 10-0 WHAC) will play Kuyper College at 4:00 PM before squaring off in a key WHAC battle with Siena Heights at 7:00 PM. 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.
