Fort Wayne, IN — The 2025 season couldn't have started on a brighter note for Aquinas women's volleyball at the Onset Tournament. Guided by head coach Ryan Campbell, the Saints—ranked No. 15 in the NAIA preseason poll—stormed into their first competition of the year and showed exactly why they're among the nation's elite. With energy, balance, and depth across the roster, Aquinas powered its way to a 3-1 record on opening weekend, highlighted by two dominant sweeps and a statement win to set the tone for another exciting campaign for the nationally recognized Saints.

Match 1: Aquinas 3, Bryan (TN) 1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-11, 25-15)

The Saints opened the season with a strong 3-1 victory over Bryan. After narrowly dropping the first set 25-23, Aquinas regrouped and dominated the next three frames to secure the win.

Lauren Chioini led the offense with 15 kills on a .355 hitting percentage, while Cece Pelak added 11 kills and three service aces to spark key runs. Michelle Domey chipped in nine kills, and Natalie West set the pace with 25 assists and seven kills of her own. Jeralyn Hoppes and Nevaeh Bakker provided efficient scoring, combining for 14 kills on just 28 swings.

Defensively, the Saints frustrated Bryan's attack, holding them to just a .009 hitting percentage. Chioini (nine blocks), Domey (six), and Pelak (two) controlled the net, while libero Bella Hommes anchored the back row with a match-high 20 digs. The Saints also controlled the serve game, finishing with nine aces compared to the Lions' two.

Match 2: IU Kokomo 3, Aquinas 1 (25-18, 29-31, 25-23, 25-19)

In their second match, the Saints battled but fell 3-1 to IU Kokomo. After dropping the opener, Aquinas showed resilience by pulling out a thrilling 31-29 win in the second set. Despite several rallies in the third and fourth, the Cougars held off the Saints late.

Pelak once again led the way with 14 kills, three aces, and 16 digs. Chioini added 10 kills, three solo blocks, and five block assists, while Kate Schneider provided a spark off the bench with six kills on .294 hitting. Setter Taylor Reha guided the offense with 30 assists, and Hommes tallied a team-high 18 digs. Domey and Bakker combined for 12 kills and strong touches at the net, but Kokomo's balanced attack proved too steady down the stretch.

Match 3: Aquinas 3, Fisk (TN) 0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23)

The Saints bounced back with a dominant sweep of Fisk to move to 2-1 on the season. Aquinas hit an impressive .370 as a team, spreading the attack efficiently across the lineup.

Pelak was outstanding with 16 kills on a blistering .481 percentage, adding three aces to her tally. Chioini slammed 11 kills on a .667 clip, while Domey added nine kills on .500 hitting. Bakker was steady in the middle with six kills and four blocks, while Reha orchestrated the offense brilliantly with 43 assists. Defensively, Hommes recorded 16 digs, with Schneider and Sarah Curtis chipping in key contributions at the net.

Match 4: Aquinas 3, Rio Grande 0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-12)

Aquinas closed the weekend in style with a sweep over Rio Grande to finish 3-1. The Saints dictated the tempo from the opening serve, hitting .343 as a team and controlling play at the net.

Pelak and Chioini each tallied 13 kills, with Pelak swinging .455 and Chioini at .364. Bakker was dominant in the middle with 10 kills on .500 hitting and five blocks. Domey added seven kills, while Schneider contributed eight kills and six block assists. Reha dished out another 43 assists with two aces, while Hommes collected 13 digs to pace the defense. Aquinas' front line combined for 18 total blocks to cap the sweep.

Inside the Numbers

• Balanced Attack: The Saints totaled 209 kills on the weekend while hitting a combined .274 as a team. Chioini (49 kills, .357) and Pelak (54 kills, .328) led the offense, with Domey (30 kills, .250) and Bakker (23 kills, .232) providing key support in the middle.
• Setting the Tone: Setter Taylor Reha handed out 146 assists, averaging more than 10.4 per set, while also adding four aces and steady back-row defense.
• Defensive Wall: Aquinas racked up 62 team blocks, highlighted by Chioini (21), Bakker (10), and Schneider (11). The Saints' presence at the net was especially effective in sweeps over Fisk and Rio Grande.
• Back Row Strength: Libero Bella Hommes led with 67 digs (4.7 per set), while Pelak (35 digs) and Domey (21 digs, 8 blocks) contributed across all phases.
• Service Game Impact: The Saints delivered 31 service aces, led by Pelak (9), Hommes (6), and Reha (4), consistently keeping opponents off balance.

Coaches' Comments

Head Coach Ryan Campbell praised his team's early-season effort: "This was our first weekend of play, and we faced some quality teams. We used the opportunity to try out several lineups as we work to find the right connections on the court. I'm proud of how our team competed, and I'm looking forward to dialing things in during practice."

Up Next

The Saints return to action over Labor Day Weekend at the IUSB/Bethel Tournament, playing Friday and Saturday. Currently ranked No. 15 in the NAIA, Aquinas looks to build on its strong start as it prepares for the beginning of WHAC conference play. For full schedule details and coverage, visit AQSaints.com.