Kalamazoo, Mich. – When the schedule first came out, this probably wasn't a date anyone circled. A midseason, nonconference trip to Kalamazoo? No biggie. Then came the grind of the past few weeks, another road match Friday and a Saturday assignment with all the makings of a trap. Give more Saints an opportunity, keep everyone healthy and still take care of business. Easy enough to put on a checklist. A little tougher to pull off between the lines.
The No. 6 Aquinas women's volleyball team checked those boxes Saturday, putting its depth to work and heading into a welcome break with another victory tucked into the travel bag.
No. 6 Aquinas 3, Kalamazoo 0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-19)
The Saints used a commanding opening-set run, a strong finish in the second and a comeback in the third to complete the sweep at Anderson Athletic Center. Thirteen AQ players saw action as the Maroon and White balanced production from familiar leaders with opportunities throughout the lineup.
Cece Pelak led the attack with 17 kills, adding eight digs, two service aces and two block assists. Jayla Martin delivered seven kills on .462 hitting and five total blocks, while Kate Schneider contributed five kills on just seven swings for a .571 hitting percentage.
Aquinas found its separation midway through the opening set. With the Saints leading 14-9, Pelak supplied a kill to regain serve, then stayed at the service line as AQ stretched the advantage to 22-9. Her two aces, a Schneider kill and three consecutive Martin kills helped turn a competitive start into a comfortable lead.
Nevaeh Bakker's solo block brought the Saints to set point, and Schneider finished the 25-12 victory with an ace. AQ hit .448 in the frame, with Kaylyn Tuck also contributing a kill on her only attempt.
The second set required more patience. Kalamazoo stayed alongside the Saints through a 17-17 tie before Pelak's kill put AQ ahead for good. Kami Morse then served four consecutive points, a stretch featuring a Natalie West kill, a Martin-Pelak block and another Martin kill that pushed the lead to 22-17.
Pelak added two more kills down the stretch, including the set winner, as Aquinas took the second 25-19. West finished her two sets with 23 assists, four kills on six error-free attempts, four digs, two block assists and an ace. Brooke Price added two digs and an assist, setting up one of West's second-set kills.
The third set gave the Saints' depth a chance to answer a tougher question: What happens when the other side has the momentum?
With Kyla Charles directing the offense and Olivia Dennis, Soniah Robinson and Michelle Ramirez among the Saints contributing during the match, Kalamazoo built a 16-11 advantage. AQ still trailed 17-13 when a Bakker kill brought Sophie Munch to the service line.
That was the turning point.
Aquinas scored eight consecutive points to turn the four-point deficit into a 21-17 lead. Munch's seven-point service run included two Pelak kills, a kill of her own and a Charles solo block. The Saints then closed with two more Pelak kills and blocks from Charles and Martin, finishing another 25-19 victory.
Charles recorded five assists and three total blocks in the final set, while Dennis collected four digs. Munch finished with three digs and a kill, Ramirez added a dig, and Morse anchored the defense with a team-high 15 digs and four assists.
For the match, Aquinas hit .311 and totaled 11 team blocks, holding Kalamazoo to a .020 hitting percentage. Bakker matched Martin with five total blocks and added three kills without an attack error.
The victory lifted Aquinas to 29-1 overall. The Saints remain alone atop the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference at 10-0 and hold the No. 6 ranking in the NAIA, carrying their national standing and conference lead into the upcoming break. Kalamazoo fell to 4-14 overall and remains 0-2 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Saints Snapshots
- Depth with a purpose. Thirteen Saints stepped onto the court, giving AQ valuable opportunities to develop its lineup while completing a demanding stretch with another victory.
- The response mattered. A 17-13 deficit in the third set became a 21-17 lead. With a different combination on the floor, the Saints found the composure to stop the slide and finish the sweep.
- Different setters, same expectation. West helped AQ hit better than .440 in each of the first two sets. Charles then guided the third-set comeback, contributing at the net as well as distributing the offense.
- A wall travels well. Martin and Bakker each recorded five blocks as the Saints made Kalamazoo work for its offense. AQ's 11 team blocks provided an answer when the attack slowed in the final set.
- A breather earned. At 29-1, unbeaten in WHAC play and ranked sixth nationally, the Saints head into six days without a match with an opportunity to recover before the conference stretch resumes.
Coach's Comments
First and foremost, Coach Campbell was pleased to get through the week healthy. Just as encouraging was another opportunity to see the Saints' depth respond when called upon.
"This week asked a lot of our team, and I'm proud of how we kept finding ways to respond," Campbell said. "It was important to get more players opportunities, and we saw people step in and contribute in different ways. These six days without a match will give us a chance to recover physically, reset mentally and get some focused work done in practice. As we move into the next part of the schedule, we need to keep sharpening our execution, stay connected and approach every opponent with the same urgency."
Up Next
The Saints will enjoy a six-day stretch without a match before returning to action Saturday, Oct. 17, in Defiance, Ohio. Aquinas will challenge the Yellow Jackets in a WHAC match-up beginning at 2 p.m.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live statistics, streaming links, updates, stories, features and complete postgame coverage of Aquinas women's volleyball and all other Saints sports.
It's a great day to be a Saint.
