Lourdes rallied from a two sets to one deficit to defeat Aquinas 18-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-10 in a matchup of NAIA top-10 foes on Friday inside the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
"We showed a great deal of heart tonight bouncing back from a tough five-set loss," head coach Greg Reitz said afterwards.  "We had to battle and we did just that.  Our hustle to not let rallies end was key for us."
 
Jeff Lam (Richmond, B.C./Hugh McRoberts H.S.) tallied a match-high 21 kills while Ricardo Gehrke (Blumenau, Brazil/Escola Barao Do Rio Branco H.S.) added 19 more, hit .472, and tallied 12 digs as the fourth-ranked Gray Wolves finished with a 69-49 advantage in kills and outhit the Saints .229-.194 for the match.
 
Lourdes led early in the opening set before an 8-1 Aquinas run put the hosts in front 11-8 and the Saints would hit .476 while forcing nine attack errors from the Gray Wolves in winning the opening set.  A 5-1 run by Lourdes midway through the second set allowed the Gray Wolves to pull away in the stanza while registering 18 kills.
 
Set three was tied at 21 before ninth-ranked Aquinas would score the next two points to take the lead for good.  Lourdes put down another 18 kills in set four, a frame which was 16 ties.  Tied again at 21, the Gray Wolves flipped the script in the fourth to force the decisive final set.
 
Four straight points early in the final set allowed Lourdes to pull in front early, and the Gray Wolves did not relinquish the advantage in completing the comeback. 
 
Evan Gebert (Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider H.S.) and Henrique Gehrke (Blumenau, Brazil/Escola Barao Do Rio Branco H.S.) both tallied double-doubles.  Gebert had 14 kills and 14 digs while Henrique Gehrke handed out 57 assists and tallied 12 digs.  Guga Heidrich (Braco do Norte, Brazil/Colegio Unificiado H.S.) tallied 19 digs.
 
Joshua Boothroyd led Aquinas (11-5, 3-1 WHAC) with 24 kills while Kelsey Yogi had 17 digs.
 
Lourdes (11-2, 3-1) has eight days off before returning home next Saturday, Feb. 22 as the Gray Wolves host Siena Heights.  First serve inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center is set for 1 p.m.