Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Aquinas men's volleyball team battled through three competitive sets but ultimately fell to Lawrence Tech in straight sets on Thursday night (Feb. 6). Despite multiple strong runs and sustained pressure, the Saints were unable to shift the momentum, falling 3–0 to the Blue Devils.
Aquinas 0, Lawrence Tech 3
The Saints opened the match with confidence, scoring the first two points behind kills from Garrett Anderson and Jayden Sturdevant. Brock Hoffman added another early finish to extend AQ's lead to 4–2, but Lawrence Tech answered with a four-point run to take control.
Aquinas continued to respond, with Joseph Hodgson keeping the Saints within reach at 9–7 before a four-point burst, fueled by kills from Connor Staats, Anderson, and Hodgson, gave AQ an 11–10 edge. A late surge by the Blue Devils, however, swung the set in their favor, and despite late kills from Braylon Amos and Sturdevant, Lawrence Tech closed out the opener 25–18.
Staats opened the second set with a kill, and Hoffman followed with another finish as AQ stayed aggressive early. Two service aces from Staats helped the Saints regain the lead, and a connection between Hodgson and Ryden Luedtke pushed Aquinas ahead 8–5.
The teams traded points through the middle of the set, with Staats tying the score at 12–12, but Lawrence Tech found its rhythm late. A six-point run created separation, and although Luedtke added a late service ace, the Blue Devils secured the set 25–21.
Lawrence Tech struck first in the third set, building an early lead before Hodgson and Sturdevant combined for a key block to tie the score at 3–3. The Blue Devils quickly responded with extended runs to build a sizable advantage. Kills from Staats and Anderson highlighted AQ's continued effort, but Lawrence Tech maintained control and closed out the match with a 25–12 victory.
Coach's Comments
"Our guys competed hard and never stopped fighting, and I'm proud of the way they kept pushing even when things weren't going our way," said head coach Michael Crane. "We had moments where our energy and execution were really strong, but at this level, consistency matters. We'll take what we learned tonight, clean up some details, and be ready to respond next week."
By the Numbers
Up Next
Aquinas will look to bounce back on Tuesday, Feb. 10, when the Saints host Cornerstone at 7:00 p.m. on their home court.
