Grand Rapids, MI – The AQ women's volleyball team hit the road for a two-match WHAC swing through Ohio this past weekend. On paper, the Saints appeared to have the upper hand, but in the grind of conference play, overlooking any WHAC opponent can prove costly. Coach Ryan Campbell's squad has continued to show steady improvement, yet knows it can't afford to take a weekend off. This trip featured a Friday night stop at Defiance, followed by a Saturday afternoon matchup against Lourdes.

Aquinas 3, Defiance 1 (26–24, 18–25, 25–20, 25–19)
The Saints found themselves in a battle on Friday night, as Defiance pushed the opening set to the wire before AQ pulled out a narrow 26–24 victory. After the Yellow Jackets responded by taking the second frame, AQ steadied the match behind the balanced play of Mel Beachnau and Cece Pelak, who each registered 13 kills. Lauren Chioini added 11 kills, while Nevaeh Bakker was highly efficient with 10 kills on just 16 swings. Setter Natalie West paced the offense with 41 assists and chipped in 15 digs, while libero Bella Hommes was everywhere defensively, collecting a match-high 24 digs. A pivotal moment came late in the third set when Michelle Domey delivered back-to-back kills to halt Defiance's momentum and swing the energy back to AQ. In addition, contributions from Jenna Lee, with steady passing, and Sarah Curtis, off the bench, provided valuable support to help the Saints close out the match.

Aquinas 3, Lourdes 0 (25–18, 25–18, 25–15)
On Saturday, AQ put together one of its most complete performances of the season, sweeping Lourdes in straight sets on the road. Chioini and Bakker once again set the tone offensively, each finishing with 11 kills, while Domey and Pelak combined for 14 more to keep the attack balanced. West directed the flow with 34 assists, consistently spreading the offense and finding the hot hand in each rotation. Hommes was a defensive force in the back row with 20 digs, while Kami Morse chipped in eight more as the Saints controlled the rallies from start to finish. A key stretch came in the second set when Ki'i Rilveria sparked a run with several sharp digs and a perfectly placed serve, helping AQ build a lead it would not relinquish. Along with her, Julia Schweihofer stepped in and provided energy at the service line, offering solid defense and giving the Saints valuable depth in the sweep.

Inside the Numbers

• AQ is now 15–4 overall and a perfect 7–0 in WHAC play.
• Beachnau posted 18 total kills across the two matches.
• Bakker swung at over .400 in both matches.
• West totaled 75 assists on the weekend.
• Hommes combined for 44 digs in the two matches.
• AQ hit .270 as a team against Lourdes.

Coaches Comment
Coach Ryan Campbell spoke about the two matches this weekend:
"Defiance: We started out a little slow with our serving and blocking, and their blocking keyed in on our usual scorers. That opened the door for other players to step up, and Mel and Nevaeh really answered offensively. Our backcourt defense got stronger as the match went on, and our passing remains one of our biggest strengths. The team showed a lot of grit and composure, especially in a tough environment.
Lourdes: We served with much more consistency today, and our middles really took control of the offense. Defensively, our backcourt was outstanding, averaging over 20 digs per set."

Up Next
The Saints, now 15–4 overall and 7–0 in WHAC play, return home for a busy three-match week at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center. AQ will host Rochester Christian at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, UM-Dearborn at 7:00 PM on Friday, and wrap up with a Saturday 2:00 PM contest against Madonna. Fans are encouraged to attend, but all matches will also stream live with Joey Sutherlin on the call. As always, visit AQSaints.com for live stats, stories, and recaps.