Grand Rapids, Mich. — As we are into October, that means we're on the back half of the WHAC conference journey. Early in the season, the Saints showed potential but had some kinks to work out. Now, this is a team that continues to improve, passes well, plays good defense, and never quits. They've also proven they've developed the depth that good teams must have — a quality bench that can step up, step in, and compete on any given day. Wednesday was an odd middle-of-the-week, non-tri two-match adventure, with an early afternoon contest against Kuyper College and a late challenge from conference foe Siena Heights. It proved to be a great gauge of where Coach Ryan Campbell's squad has improved and where they'll continue to refine their play.

Match 1: Aquinas 3, Kuyper 0 (25–12, 25–8, 25–13)

The Saints opened their Wednesday doubleheader with a dominant performance over Kuyper College, sweeping the Cougars in straight sets. Aquinas hit an impressive .283 as a team, spreading the offense across multiple hitters. Sophomore outside hitter Sophie Munch led the charge with 11 kills and a .318 attack percentage, while Angelia Cutts added seven kills and two blocks. Tess Griffith and Jeanette Desser each tallied seven and six kills respectively, with Griffith also posting a .333 hitting clip.
Setter Taylor Reha dished out 28 assists and contributed defensively with five digs, while Megan VanBeek added five total blocks and a pair of aces. Audrey Gil made the most of her swings, going 5-for-6 on attacks (.833) and serving up three aces to keep the pressure on Kuyper. The Saints' serving game was sharp, producing nine total aces with Julia Schweihofer collecting three. The victory marked Aquinas' 10th straight WHAC win of the year, setting the tone for the night session.

Match 2: Aquinas 3, Siena Heights 0 (25–16, 25–16, 25–9)

In the evening matchup of Saints versus Saints, Aquinas once again looked locked in, controlling all three sets against Siena Heights to stay unbeaten in WHAC play. Freshman setter Natalie West continued her outstanding season, recording 30 assists, 12 digs, and six total blocks (one solo, five assists), while also adding five kills and an ace for a complete all-around performance. Offensively, Cece Pelak powered home 12 kills and hit .250, while Nevaeh Bakker was efficient with six kills on 12 attempts (.333).
Jeralyn Hoppes chipped in six kills with two block assists, and Lauren Chioini added five kills and four blocks of her own. Mel Beachnau contributed four kills and three digs, while libero Bella Hommes anchored the back row with 21 digs and four aces. The balanced attack helped Aquinas hit .228 as a team, outpacing Siena Heights in every category and showcasing the kind of depth and poise that defines championship-caliber teams.

Inside the Numbers

• The Saints hit .283 in the opener and .228 in the nightcap, showing consistent offensive execution.
• Aquinas tallied a combined 18 service aces across both matches.
• The Saints' defense allowed just one set with more than 16 points scored against them all day.
• Seven different AQ players recorded at least one block in the Siena Heights match.
• Aquinas improved to 20–4 overall and a perfect 11–0 in WHAC play.

Coach's Comments

Head coach Ryan Campbell praised the group's composure and depth across a long day of volleyball, emphasizing the value of having contributions from top to bottom:

"It was a busy Wednesday, but our group showed incredible focus and balance," said Campbell. "Every player who stepped on the court did their job, and that's what great teams do. We've worked hard on building depth and trust, and today was a perfect reflection of that — two solid sweeps, everyone contributing, and still hungry to get better."

Up Next

The WHAC-leading Saints get a well-earned rest — and a week of hard practices — before a marquee rematch with crosstown rival Cornerstone, currently second in the conference. The last meeting between the two teams went the distance in a thrilling five-set AQ victory. The highly anticipated showdown is set for next week and will be streamed live on the AQ Sports Network. Fans can stay up to date on all Saints stats, recaps, and stories by visiting AQSaints.com.