Grand Rapids, Mich.—For the 2025 AQ Men's Volleyball squad, the second half of the conference season is when they believe they will start to put it all together and play good, clean, consistent volleyball. Unfortunately for the Saints, they had to play the always difficult cross-town rival from Cornerstone. The Golden Eagles defeated AQ in three sets to the disappointment of the Aquinas faithful.

Cornerstone 3, Aquinas 0 (18-25, 13-25, 18-25)

Aquinas started the match with energy, jumping to an early lead in the first set behind key kills from Connor Staats and Alexander Rodriguez. However, unforced errors and a strong Cornerstone block turned the tide as the Golden Eagles capitalized on AQ's mistakes. The Saints struggled to find rhythm in the second set, posting a negative hitting percentage while Cornerstone's efficient attack took control.

Staats led the Saints with 10 kills, but nine attack errors made it tough to maintain momentum. Zachary Nosky provided a steady presence with four kills and a .333 hitting percentage, while Ryden Luedtke distributed 12 assists. Defensively, Oniel Alvarez recorded eight digs, but the Saints couldn't contain the balanced offense of Cornerstone, led by David Galanes and Ernest Broaster.

Inside the Numbers

• Connor Staats led AQ with 10 kills but was held to a .037 hitting percentage due to a tough Cornerstone block.
• The Saints hit -.038 as a team, struggling to sustain offensive pressure.
• Ryden Luedtke set up 12 assists, while Oniel Alvarez anchored the defense with eight digs.

Up Next

The Saints will head home for weekend games at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center. Friday night, AQ will host Oakland City at 7:00 PM, and on Saturday, Lawrence Tech comes to town for a 3:00 PM match. For more information, check out the AQSaints.com website for all your Aquinas Athletics.