Aquinas and Cornerstone Advance to WHAC Tournament Finals

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The top seeds continued to reign supreme in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Women's Volleyball Tournament. On Friday night on the campus of Aquinas College, top-seeded Aquinas swept #4 Rochester Christian and #2 Cornerstone downed #3 Indiana Tech in semifinal action. Aquinas and Cornerstone now get set to square off on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. for the tournament finale. 

No. 1 Aquinas def. No. 4 Rochester Christian 3-0 | Box Score

The Aquinas Saints women's volleyball team swept the Rochester Christian Warriors in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) semifinals held on November 14, 2025. The match, which took place on the campus of Aquinas College, witnessed the Saints dominating each set - 25-17, 25-20, and 25-18 respectively.

Aquinas capitalized on a stellar performance by Cece Pelak who dazzled the crowd with 16 kills and 2 service aces, setting a high tempo in Game 1 with a masterful service ace. Lauren Chioini and Jenna Lee also contributed significantly, hammering down kills that thwarted the Warriors' defensive efforts. Despite a determined attempt by Rochester Christian to narrow the margin in Game 2, the Saints maintained their lead, buoyed by more remarkable attacks from Pelak and Chioini.

The defensive prowess of the Saints was equally formidable. Bella Hommes led the backcourt with 20 digs, crucial in neutralizing the Warriors' attacks, while Natalie West added 8 digs to her impressive 37 assists, orchestrating the Saints' offense efficiently. Chloe Hogarth's contributions also helped stabilize their defense throughout the match.

No. 2 Cornerstone def. No. 3 Indiana Tech 3-1 | Box Score

In a compelling WHAC Semifinal battle held on November 14, 2025, at Grand Rapids, Mich., the Cornerstone Golden Eagles triumphed over the Indiana Tech Warriors with a final score of 3-1, advancing to the WHAC finals. The Golden Eagles showcased their dominance early on, capturing the first two games with robust serves and powerful attacks, leading to scores of 25-16 and 25-18, respectively. Despite a brief comeback from the Warriors in the third game, winning it 25-23, Cornerstone decisively closed the match in the fourth game with a 25-17 win.

Cornerstone's offensive prowess was highlighted by impressive performances from Aubrey Johnson, who tallied 12 kills and 4 service aces, and Josilyn Potter, who contributed 9 kills and 2 service aces. Gabby VerBerkmoes also played a vital role with 10 kills. On defense, Gianna Warwick was instrumental with 24 digs, supported by Payton Hutchinson's 5 digs and 26 assists, fortifying Cornerstone's formidable line-up.

The victory sets the stage for a showdown with Aquinas in the WHAC finals on Saturday, where the Golden Eagles seek to harness their current momentum for a grand finish to their season. Indiana Tech, despite this setback, had commendable contributions from players like Lauren Paska and Amelia Schultz, who scored 9 and 8 kills respectively. Their defensive efforts were led by Emiline Wood with 10 digs. As the season progresses, the strategic play and teamwork displayed in this semifinal are indicative of the high-caliber competition within the WHAC.