Kokomo, Ind. – After collecting two victories Friday, the No. 17 Aquinas women's volleyball team entered the second day of the IU Kokomo Tournament with an opportunity to take another meaningful step forward before WHAC competition begins.
The Saints needed every bit of their resolve Saturday, surviving a five-set battle with Rio Grande before facing host and No. 13 IU Kokomo later in the day. Knocking off the Cougars on their home court would give AQ an early signature victory, strengthen its national résumé and show that the Saints can respond under pressure against one of the country's top teams.
Aquinas did exactly that, winning two demanding five-set matches to complete a perfect 4-0 tournament weekend. The four-win trip gave AQ plenty to celebrate, but it also provided valuable lessons before the Saints welcome UM-Dearborn to Coach Bo Court for Wednesday's WHAC opener.
Match One: No. 17 Aquinas 3, Rio Grande 2
22-25, 25-15, 25-14, 22-25, 18-16
Aquinas opened Saturday by outlasting Rio Grande in a dramatic five-set match that required extra points in the deciding frame. After dropping the opener 25-22, the Saints answered emphatically by hitting .500 in a dominant 25-15 second-set victory. AQ remained in control during the third, attacking at a .467 clip and moving ahead two sets to one with a 25-14 win.
Rio Grande refused to go quietly, taking the fourth set 25-22 and forcing Aquinas into a decisive fifth set before its anticipated matchup with No. 13 IU Kokomo. Cece Pelak powered the Aquinas attack with 24 kills, 13 digs and a service ace, while Jayla Martin delivered 17 kills on a blistering .500 hitting percentage. Martin also contributed six total blocks, including one solo rejection, to finish with 20.5 points.
Natalie West directed the offense with 52 assists and added 13 digs, three kills, three aces and two blocks. Kaylyn Tuck supplied eight kills on .300 hitting, while Nevaeh Bakker reached double figures with 10 kills and added two blocks. Michelle Ramirez chipped in five kills and three block assists, and Kate Schneider provided two kills and a block assist off the bench. Defensively, Kami Morse collected 22 digs, while Pelak, West, Sophie Munch, Brooke Price and Olivia Dennis helped AQ withstand Rio Grande's fourth-set response.
The fifth set featured 13 ties and six lead changes, with neither side able to create lasting separation. AQ held a 9-7 advantage before Rio Grande surged ahead 11-9, but the Saints regrouped following a timeout and continued trading pressure-filled points deep into extra play. With the score tied at 14-14, 15-15 and 16-16, a Rio Grande service error finally gave Aquinas match point. Pelak then ended the two-hour battle with her 24th kill, sealing an 18-16 escape and sending the Saints into their showdown with IU Kokomo with little recovery time.
Match Two: No. 17 Aquinas 3, No. 13 IU Kokomo 2
18-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 15-12
Aquinas returned to the floor and earned an early statement victory on the national stage, defeating No. 13 IU Kokomo in five sets on the Cougars' home court. The host controlled the opening set 25-18, but AQ responded in a back-and-forth second frame that featured 11 ties and eight lead changes before the Saints prevailed 25-22. Kokomo regained the advantage with another 25-18 decision in the third, putting Aquinas one set away from its second loss of the season.
The Saints answered with poise, taking the fourth set 25-19 behind a balanced attack and forcing their second deciding set of the day. Martin again led AQ's efficiency, putting down 14 kills with only three errors for a .407 hitting percentage. Pelak added 13 kills, 13 digs, three aces and a block assist, while Tuck registered 12 kills and Bakker finished with 11 kills and a match-high nine total blocks.
West delivered another all-around performance from the setter position, totaling 44 assists, 12 digs, five kills and three service aces. Morse anchored the back row with a match-best 35 digs and also contributed four assists and two aces. Price, Sarah Curtis, Munch, Dennis and Audrey Gil also helped AQ cover the floor against Kokomo's powerful attack.
In the fifth set, the Saints won the first two points before the Cougars ripped off six of the next seven to establish a 6-2 lead and force an Aquinas timeout. AQ's response began with a Kokomo service error before Bakker and Ramirez took control at the net. With Morse serving, Aquinas completed a six-point swing that included a Bakker kill, three blocks involving Bakker or Ramirez and a Morse ace, turning a 6-2 deficit into an 8-6 advantage.
After Kokomo drew even at 8-8, Bakker restored the lead with another kill and Dennis followed with an ace to make it 10-8. Munch later delivered an ace for a 12-9 cushion, and the Saints extended the margin to 14-10 before the Cougars fought off two match points. Pelak provided the final answer, terminating the last rally for a 15-12 victory that gave No. 17 Aquinas a nationally significant win over the 13th-ranked Cougars on their home court.
With Saturday's two five-set victories, Aquinas improved to 9-1 overall after completing a perfect 4-0 weekend at the IU Kokomo Tournament.
Saints Snapshots
- Perfect in Kokomo: Aquinas completed a 4-0 tournament weekend, winning six consecutive sets Friday before surviving two five-set battles Saturday.
- A National Statement: The No. 17 Saints defeated No. 13 IU Kokomo on the Cougars' home court, earning an early signature victory for their national résumé.
- Fifth-Set Fortitude: AQ survived multiple match points against Rio Grande before overcoming a 6-2 deficit in the deciding set against IU Kokomo.
- Strength in the Middle: Martin remained one of AQ's most efficient attackers, while Bakker's presence at the net helped change the fifth set against Kokomo.
- Ready for the WHAC: The Saints return to Coach Bo Court with a 9-1 record, four consecutive victories and valuable experience in high-pressure situations ahead of Wednesday's conference opener.
Coach's Comments
It was a wild but successful Saturday for AQ, and Head Coach Ryan Campbell was proud of how his team handled two grueling matches while remaining focused on its long-term goals.
"I'm incredibly proud of the toughness our team showed today because winning two five-set matches, especially finishing against the No. 13 team in the country on its home floor, is never easy," Campbell said. "We had to fight through fatigue, adversity and some moments where things were not going our way, and our group continued to trust one another. At the same time, it is still August, and we saw several areas where we need to grow, improve and become more consistent. We will gladly take a four-win weekend, but our focus remains on getting better every day and pursuing that red banner. Now we are excited to return home for our WHAC opener Wednesday and bring '90s Night to Coach Bo Court."
Up Next
It does not get any easier for Campbell's squad, as the Saints return to Coach Bo Court on Wednesday to host UM-Dearborn in their first match of the WHAC season. Wednesday will also be '90s Night, and the Aquinas women's volleyball team hopes to fill the gym with fans wearing baggy jeans, neon windbreakers and chunky platform sneakers. All are invited to the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center on Wednesday for the 7:00 PM start, Joey Sutherlin will be streaming the match on the AQSaints Athletic Network.
Spoiler alert: You could see Men's Volleyball Head Coach Michael Crane sporting the Zack Morris look and Men's Basketball Head Coach Ryan Bertoia wearing his normal threads from the bygone era.
Aquinas will then co-host a Labor Day weekend tournament Friday and Saturday, when the Saints are scheduled to play four more matches.
