Livonia, Mich. — Since clinching the WHAC Conference title, Head Coach Ryan Campbell has preached the importance of staying focused and finishing strong. The Saints have heard the message loud and clear, though Friday night at Madonna served as a reminder that no match can be taken for granted. The Crusaders came out swinging, forcing the Saints into their eighth five-set match of the season. Despite some early stumbles, Aquinas showed its trademark resilience, rallying to take down Madonna in a thrilling contest.

Aquinas 3, Madonna 2 (20–25, 25–18, 27–25, 21–25, 15–7)

After dropping the opening set, the Saints responded behind the steady play of setter Natalie West, who dished out 47 assists and added 22 digs while keeping AQ's offense humming. Cece Pelak powered the attack with a match-high 19 kills and 22.5 points, while Lauren Chioini was equally dynamic with 15 kills and five blocks. Nevaeh Bakker provided a spark in the middle with seven kills and six total blocks, and Bella Hommes anchored the back row with 27 digs and three service aces. Jenna Lee and Sophie Munch added timely swings at the net, helping Aquinas take the crucial third set in extra points to regain momentum heading into the final two frames.

In the decisive fifth set, the "Five-Set Saints" once again rose to the occasion. With the score tied 4–4, West found Chioini for back-to-back kills before a block combo from Bakker and Pelak broke things open. Hommes' serving run then extended the lead to 10–5, and from there, the Saints never looked back—closing on a 5–2 burst to secure the win. The composure and teamwork in the final set reflected the championship poise Coach Campbell has worked to instill all season.

By the Numbers
     • Pelak led all players with 19 kills and 22.5 points.
     • West notched 47 assists and 22 digs for her seventh double-double.
     • Hommes recorded 27 digs and three aces.
     • AQ out-hit Madonna .261 to -.125 in the fifth set.

Coach's Comments
Head Coach Ryan Campbell reflected afterward:
"This match is a great example of why we can never take any opponent lightly. Madonna came to play, and we had to dig deep to respond. I love how our team handled adversity late and stayed locked in when it mattered most. If we want to make a run in the postseason, we have to keep that same focus every single point."

Up Next
The Saints (28–5, 19–0 WHAC) conclude the regular season on Saturday, November 8, when they travel to UM-Dearborn. Madonna drops to 19–10 overall and 12–7 in league play. With the victory, Aquinas remains perfect in conference action and extends its WHAC winning streak to 19 matches.