Grand Rapids, Mich. – Sit back and relax—it may be March Madness for basketball, but it's April Anxiety for WHAC men's volleyball. That theme continued Thursday night as the Saints delivered an outstanding defensive performance to defeat Bethel 3-1.

Aquinas 3, Bethel 1 (25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22)

Aquinas College secured a strong 3-1 victory over Bethel (IN) in a competitive home match on April 3, 2025. The Saints came out firing in the opening set, hitting an impressive .500 attack percentage while limiting the Pilots to .194. Led by Connor Staats, who recorded 20 kills on the night, Aquinas controlled the tempo early. Julian Fira orchestrated the offense effectively with 26 assists, helping the Saints claim the first set 25-18.

The second set was a tighter battle as Bethel fought back, but Aquinas maintained composure. Kapelie Moala added 12 kills, while Callahan Schwartz contributed 17 assists to keep the offense flowing. The Saints pulled away late to secure a 25-22 win, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

Bethel responded in the third set, capitalizing on Aquinas' offensive struggles as the Saints posted a .156 attack percentage. Despite Alexander Rodriguez contributing eight kills and Zachary Nosky adding four blocks, Aquinas fell 25-20, forcing a fourth set.

Looking to close out the match, the Saints delivered a determined effort in the final frame. Oniel Alvarez anchored the defense with eight digs, while Staats and Schwartz each recorded two service aces. A sharp .346 hitting percentage in the fourth set helped Aquinas seal the 25-22 victory.

With the win, the Saints improve to 8-16 overall and 3-10 in WHAC play, keeping their slim postseason hopes alive as they look to build momentum.

Inside the Numbers

• Connor Staats: 20 kills, 2 aces, 6 digs, 2 blocks, 23 points
• Kapelie Moala: 12 kills, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 13 points
• Julian Fira: 26 assists, 1 ace, 1 block, 6 digs
• Digs: Aquinas 33, Bethel 22

Coach's Comments

Head Coach Michael Crane praised his team's relentless defensive effort.

"Tonight, our team played probably the best defense we've seen all year. It wasn't necessarily fundamental defense, but it was no-quit, all-heart, touch-every-ball defense—and against high-quality teams, that's essential. Bethel is fourth in our conference, so to put that kind of performance on the floor was awesome."

Up Next

The Saints will celebrate Senior Night on Friday at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center, playing their final home match of 2025 against the Goshen Maple Leafs at 7:00 PM. For more information, visit AQSaints.com for all things Aquinas Athletics.