VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The eighth ranked Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College volleyball team defeated fifth ranked Rochester on Friday to finish pool play at the USCAA National Championship, 4-0. SMWC defeated RC, 2-1 (20-25, 25-11, 15-12) and will now enter bracket play as a one seed after running through pool play.

Sophomores McKenzi Kumpf and Monica Mack led the Pomeroys in kills against RC with 13 and 8, respectively. Sophomore Mary Alvanos recorded 26 assists, while freshman Meagan White led the team in digs with 11.

The Pomeroys fell in a close set one, 20-25, and then battled back to a 25-11 victory in set two to set the stage for a final third set and an opportunity to sweep pool play. Set three was another hard fought set by both sides, with SMWC leading 14-9, RC made a comeback to pull within three 14-12. In the end it was Mack, who has been a force in the middle to start the tournament, that ended the set with a kill and secured SMWC's fifth straight win and 4-0 record in pool play at the USCAA Volleyball National Championship.

The Pomeroys have defeated #1 Florida National, #4 Maine Fort Kent, #9 Penn State Fayette and #5 Rochester to earn their one seed for bracket play. The Pomeroys have now won five straight games dating back to their regular season finale, and they don't appear to be slowing down heading into their first bracket match against Alfred State at 5:30 p.m. Friday.