Grand Rapids, Mich. — Sometimes a season isn't defined by banners, accolades, or the place it finishes in the standings.
Sometimes it's defined by how you leave the floor.
On Tuesday night inside the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center, the Saints made sure their final home match of the 2026 season would be remembered for the one thing nobody has ever questioned about this group — heart.
The postseason odds may still be alive only by the slimmest of mathematical threads, but if this was the final chapter in Grand Rapids, Aquinas made sure it read the right way: complete, connected, and full of fight.
Aquinas 3, Olivet 0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-18)
The Saints were sharp from the opening serve and played one of their most complete matches of the season, hitting .304 as a team while limiting mistakes in the moments that mattered most.
Connor Staats once again looked like the go-to force on the attack, hammering home 10 kills on a blistering .474 hitting percentage. He was joined by a balanced offensive effort that showcased exactly what this team can be when rhythm and confidence align.
Jayden Sturdevant added six kills and was active in all phases, while Jonathan Collins, Brock Hoffman, and Alexander Rodriguez each delivered five kills apiece. Hoffman was especially efficient, hitting .571, and Rodriguez gave AQ steady production in the middle.
Ryden Luedtke orchestrated the offense beautifully with 27 assists, keeping the Saints in system and allowing the attack to stay balanced from pin to pin.
But one of the biggest reasons Aquinas was able to close out all three sets came from the service line.
The Saints posted three service aces against just 10 service errors, while Olivet managed four aces but committed a costly 18 service errors. That ace-to-error ratio became one of the defining factors in the match, as AQ consistently won the discipline battle and avoided gifting free points in tight sets.
Defensively, Colin Ilagan added an ace and four digs, Andrew Jones gave a spark off the bench, and senior contributions from Andrew Sliwinski and Everett Bleyenberg added to the emotion of the home finale.
With the victory, the Saints improve to 7-17 overall and 4-12 in the WHAC, while the Comets fall to 5-19 overall and 0-7 in conference play.
Saints Snapshots
• The Right Way Out — Whatever this season became, the Saints made sure their final night at the Sturrus reflected the fight and pride that has defined this team.
• Discipline Won the Night — The service line told the story, as AQ's cleaner ace-to-error ratio helped decide two razor-tight opening sets.
• Balanced and Dangerous — Six different Saints made major offensive contributions, the kind of spread that makes this team tough to defend.
• Staats Sets the Tone — Connor Staats continued his late-season surge with another double-digit kill performance and elite efficiency.
• A Full-Team Finish — Veterans, seniors, starters, and bench sparks all played a role in closing the home campaign the right way.
Coach's Comments
After the match, Head Coach Michael Crane made sure to start with the people who stayed with the team every step of the way.
"Our fans never stopped believing in these guys, and I can't thank them enough for the support they gave us all season," Crane said. "I'm really proud that our team was able to reward that tonight with one of our most complete matches of the year. We served with discipline, we stayed connected, and we played the kind of volleyball we've been chasing. To finish the home season like that, in front of our people, means a lot."
Up Next
Following the impressive win in the 2026 home finale, AQ will hit the road for a journey to Mishawaka, Indiana, for a WHAC battle with the Pilots of Bethel.
For complete coverage of Aquinas Athletics, including stories, stats, recaps, and the latest team information, visit AQSaints.com.
