SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - Lawrence Tech University shook off a slow start and powered past Aquinas College 3-1 on Tuesday night, winning 21-25, 25-12, 25-19, 25-13 at Don Ridler Fieldhouse in Southfield, Michigan. The Blue Devils out-hit the Saints 49-33 and outscored them 96-69 across four sets to secure the home victory.
Outside hitter Yegor Volkov led Lawrence Tech with a match-high 20 kills and 27.5 points, hitting .271 on 48 swings while adding five aces, three blocks and four digs. Setter Pedro Aguiar directed the offense with 35 assists to go with 11 digs and an ace as the Blue Devils finished with 43 assists, 10 aces and 12 total blocks as a team. Mario Cid supplied efficient balance at the net, registering 11 kills on 15 attempts for a .600 hitting percentage and contributing five block assists and 14.5 points.
Aquinas controlled the opening set behind early offense from Jayden Sturdevant and a late surge from Connor Staats. Sturdevant delivered multiple kills to help the Saints build a mid-set lead, and Staats closed the frame with timely attacking and service pressure. Staats' aces and key swings down the stretch pushed Aquinas to a 25-21 win, capped when a Volkov attack sailed wide to give the visitors the 1-0 edge.
Lawrence Tech responded emphatically in the second set. With Volkov applying steady pressure from both the front row and the service line, the Blue Devils turned a tight start into a rout, pulling away for a 25-12 decision. Team serving became a factor as Lawrence Tech piled up aces, including a late stretch from Zach Mead that extended the margin and evened the match at one set apiece. Defensively, the Blue Devils' block began to take shape, limiting Aquinas' clean swings and setting the tone for the remainder of the night.
The third set proved to be a turning point as Lawrence Tech had to rally from a mid-set deficit. Volkov continued to find seams in the Aquinas block, while opposite hitter Akram Askoul chipped in with key kills and joined the front line in posting timely blocks. Those plays fueled a pivotal run that flipped the set in favor of the Blue Devils, who closed out a 25-19 win to grab a 2-1 lead in the match.
Lawrence Tech carried that momentum into the fourth, seizing control early and never allowing Aquinas to recover. Volkov again sparked a dominant opening surge, and middle blocker Nolan Meyer helped seal the outcome with several blocks and scoring plays as the Blue Devils continued to win the battle at the net. Behind a 12-block team performance and a steady side-out game, Lawrence Tech rolled to a 25-13 clinching set to finish the 3-1 victory.
Staats led Aquinas with nine kills, two aces and 11 points, while setter Ryden Luedtke paced the Saints' offense with 28 assists, eight digs and a block assist. Aquinas totaled 33 kills, six aces and four blocks in the loss but was held to 69 total points and forced into 14 attack errors by the Blue Devils' block and back-row defense. Lawrence Tech, which posted 34 digs as a team to go with its 49 kills, controlled the final three sets in front of an announced crowd of 90 and used balanced production across the lineup to close out the WHAC conference matchup.
