GIBSONIA, PA – The Aquinas Academy girls volleyball team delivered one of its biggest victories of the season Thursday evening, sweeping St. Joseph in three tightly contested sets, 25-22, 25-23, and 25-22. The 3-0 victory was a statement win for the Crusaders, who had fallen to St. Joseph in five sets earlier this season. This time, Aquinas found a way to finish each set, overcoming one of the section's top programs in a match that carried special significance for the team's seniors. Under the leadership of head coach Jenny Chufo, the Crusaders have secured a spot in the WPIAL Playoffs and have demonstrated that they can compete with the top programs in their section. For senior Carly Bezila, the victory was especially meaningful. After years of coming up short against St. Joseph, she and her fellow seniors finally had the opportunity to celebrate a win over a program that had consistently been one of the section's toughest opponents. "We started off really strong, very cohesive, positive," Bezila said. "Everybody came into the game wanting to beat them. We lost to them in five, and we knew that we could beat them." A DIFFERENT APPROACH The Crusaders entered the match with a different defensive approach and a commitment to playing smarter offensively. In their first meeting, Aquinas employed more of a rotational defense. For the rematch, the Crusaders switched to a perimeter defense while emphasizing strategic shot placement rather than simply trying to overpower St. Joseph at the net. "We decided to play perimeter in this game," Bezila explained. "We went in wanting to have craftier shots." That meant incorporating more roll shots, tips, and attacks into the deep corners of the court. The emphasis was on making intelligent decisions, keeping the ball off the floor, and forcing St. Joseph to work for every point. The strategy paid off, but it was the Crusaders' energy and determination that ultimately made the difference. Aquinas faced adversity during the third set, falling behind before battling back to regain control and complete the sweep. "I think that was pure grit and everybody working well together and wanting to win," Bezila said. A TEAM EFFORT AGAINST A SECTION POWERHOUSE Bezila was quick to recognize the contributions of sophomores Mila Cugini and Claire Bandurski, who both delivered important performances in the victory. She pointed to Cugini's consistency and determination, noting that she entered the match with a particular motivation to help the seniors accomplish something they had never experienced. "She started off the game saying, 'Let's win for our seniors. Let's get them this win that they've never gotten before against St. Joe's,'" Bezila recalled. According to Bezila, Cugini backed up those words with aggressive play, excellent sets, and several impressive plays throughout the match. Her ability to distribute the ball and create opportunities for her teammates played an important role in the Crusaders' offensive success. Bandurski also played a key role in the victory, particularly with her attacking and serving during the third set. Bezila described the sophomore as one of the team's most consistently strong hitters, crediting her with delivering several important plays when Aquinas needed them most. The performances of Cugini and Bandurski are another encouraging sign for a Crusaders program that continues to develop young talent while relying on the leadership of its experienced upperclassmen. The victory was another indication of how far the Aquinas program has come under Coach Jenny Chufo's leadership. With wins over both Serra Catholic and St. Joseph, two of the section's strongest programs, the Crusaders have demonstrated that they can compete with the best teams on their schedule. "I think we're excited because we've never been in this situation before," Bezila said. "We've never beat St. Joe's or taken down these really dominant programs." LEARNING HOW TO WIN One of the more interesting aspects of this year's Aquinas volleyball team is the number of athletes who also compete in other sports. Bezila, a member of the Aquinas girls basketball program, believes the success and experience gained through basketball have helped several upperclassmen develop the mental toughness necessary to compete in difficult volleyball matches. While basketball and volleyball are very different sports, Bezila sees a clear connection between the mentality required to succeed in both. "What I've learned in basketball is that you put your all out there every time you go out, and you need grit, you need passion, and you need dedication," she said. That approach has become increasingly important for a volleyball team learning how to handle expectations and maintain its level of play from match to match. Bezila acknowledged that consistency has sometimes been a challenge, particularly when facing opponents the Crusaders might be expected to defeat. She believes the team is at its best when every player approaches each match with the same intensity, regardless of the opponent. "When we play with those three things, our team is great. We play great," Bezila explained. Beyond the physical demands of competition, Bezila also discussed the mental challenges that come with being a high school athlete. She believes the experiences of the team's upperclassmen, including those who have competed in multiple sports, have helped them become better equipped to handle difficult moments and support younger teammates. "We know that sports can be tough on girls mentally, especially as high school athletes," Bezila said. Having experienced those challenges herself, Bezila believes the seniors have an opportunity to help the younger players develop the confidence and consistency needed to succeed. "I've struggled with keeping consistent mentally, so I think we have a lot of tricks that we can give to the underclassmen." That leadership, combined with the guidance of Coach Chufo, has helped the Crusaders develop into a team capable of competing with the section's best. BUILDING MOMENTUM TOWARD THE PLAYOFFS With victories over Serra Catholic and St. Joseph now on their résumé, Aquinas has plenty of reasons to be confident heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Still, Bezila understands that the Crusaders cannot afford to become complacent. With important matches against Calvary, Geibel, and Trinity Christian ahead, the team is focused on finishing the regular season strong and carrying its momentum into the WPIAL Playoffs. "I think going into playoffs, we know that we need to win all three games next week," Bezila said. More importantly, she believes the victory over St. Joseph has shown the Crusaders what they are capable of accomplishing when they play together, remain focused, and bring the necessary energy to every match. "Going into playoffs, I think it gives us a lot of confidence, and we need to continue to carry over this confidence," she said. For Bezila and the other seniors, the win over St. Joseph represents more than another victory in the standings. It is the reward for years of competition, difficult losses, and the work required to finally overcome one of the section's strongest programs. For Coach Chufo, the victory is another important step in a season that has seen the Crusaders secure a WPIAL playoff berth and establish themselves as a team capable of challenging the section's top opponents. The challenge now is to build on that success. If the Crusaders can maintain the same energy, toughness, and determination they displayed against St. Joseph, they have an opportunity to make some noise in the WPIAL postseason. -------- Follow Aquinas Athletics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aquinascrusaders/ Follow Aquinas Athletics on X: https://x.com/AquinasAD For the latest Aquinas Academy Athletics news, schedules, results and more, visit: https://aquinascrusaders.org/ #GoAquinas #AquinasAthletics