Grand Rapids, Mich. — You work, you rest, you work, you rest. Eventually, the work and success lead to celebration. For the 2025 Aquinas women's volleyball team, there's been plenty of both — work and rest — and more than a fair share of success. But Saturday was the moment to punctuate the WHAC season with an exclamation point and begin preparing for the NAIA National Tournament. Only cross-town rival Cornerstone stood in their way, and if the Saints could play true "Saint-style" volleyball, Coach Ryan Campbell might've been deafened by the post-game chorus of Celebration.

Aquinas 3, Cornerstone 0 (25–13, 25–17, 25–19)

The Saints came out locked in from the opening serve, dictating the tempo and refusing to let the Golden Eagles gain any rhythm. Setter Natalie West commanded the offense with 36 assists, spreading the ball evenly across her talented hitters. Lauren Chioini led the way with 12 kills and four blocks, while Cece Pelak added 10 kills and a pair of service aces to keep the pressure on Cornerstone. Nevaeh Bakker was unstoppable at the net, recording seven kills and five blocks, while Mel Beachnau chipped in seven more kills with steady defense behind the line. Bella Hommes anchored the back row with 18 digs, and Chloe Hogarth provided eight more to keep the Saints in system all afternoon.

This was the best AQ has looked at the net all season.  The Saints were absolutely dominating via the blocks at the net.  It's a great day to show off this skill.

When the final set tightened at 20–19, Aquinas refused to blink. A rocket kill from Chioini reignited the crowd, followed by a laser ace from Pelak that pushed the lead to 22–19. After a crucial block by Bakker and West to make it 23–19, Beachnau found open floor on the left side for match point. Then, fittingly, an ace by Julia Schweihofer sealed the championship with one last thunderous swing down the line — sending the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center into absolute bedlam as Aquinas swept Cornerstone to capture the WHAC Tournament title.

All Saints on Deck: A Rocking Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center

From start to finish, the Sturrus crowd was electric. Students, alumni, and families packed the gym and transformed "Bo Court" into a wall of sound. Every rally was met with roars, chants, and the rhythmic pounding of the bleachers, creating a postseason atmosphere worthy of a championship. The AQ faithful showed once again why they're among the most passionate fan bases in the WHAC — loud, loyal, and proud to bleed burgundy.

Coach's Comments

Head Coach Ryan Campbell was proud, overwhelmed, and happy for his team and this championship:

"This group embodies everything Aquinas volleyball stands for — teamwork, toughness, and trust. They've earned every bit of this moment. To win a WHAC title in front of our home fans, against our rival, is something we'll remember for a long time. But what excites me most is that we're not done yet — we're just getting started."

Inside the Numbers

     • Lauren Chioini – 12 kills, .391 hitting percentage, 4 blocks
     • Cece Pelak – 10 kills, 2 aces, 11 points
     • Natalie West – 36 assists, 6 points, 4 block assists
     • Bella Hommes – 18 digs
     • This was the 8th consecutive win over Cornerstone, following seven straight losses to the Golden Eagles in women's volleyball
     • Aquinas Athletic Director Damon Bouwkamp won his friendly wager with Cornerstone AD Jessica Yonkers — meaning Coach Yonkers will proudly don Saints gear all day Monday!

NOTES & NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE
With today's victory, the Saints added another impressive chapter to their dominance:

• The AQ Women's Volleyball team has not lost a conference match since the WHAC Tournament Finals in 2023.
• Today's sweep extended Aquinas' incredible streak to 44 straight WHAC wins over the last two seasons.

Win #45 will have to wait until the 2026 season, as the Saints now shift their focus to the NAIA National Tournament.  This is history unfolding — and you had the opportunity to witness it.

Up Next

Monday night is the NAIA National Tournament Selection Show, where Aquinas will find out its opening-round opponent and potential hosting assignment. There's a strong chance the Saints will host the first round at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center. For all updates, including live stats, streaming links, and full post-game coverage, visit AQSaints.com as Aquinas continues its postseason march.

#SaintsMarchOn | #AQVolleyball | #AQYeah

Editor's Note:
The original article contained an error regarding the final point of the match. As correctly stated now, it was Julia Schweihofer's incredible ace that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Thank you to everyone who caught the mistake. Admittedly, I broadcasted that match point myself, so I have no excuse for overlooking Julia's moment. My sincere apologies. It is the goal of AQSaints.com to be 100% accurate, and when we learn of inaccuracies, we will make the necessary corrections.