Box Score The opening two matches of the River States Conference slate provided an early look at two of the top three teams in the RSC, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods came up short Tuesday in straight sets - 25-19, 27-25, 25-20 - to IU East to fall to 14-2 overall and 0-2 in the RSC. 
The Pomeroys started off with solid play, but IU East went on a 10-0 run to take a 19-8 lead in the opening set. SMWC responded as Zulu DeJesus served the Pomeroys within 22-17. But the Red Wolves halted SMWC's momentum to take the set.  
In the second set, SMWC looked ready to even the match, taking a slight 18-15 lead after the lead changed hands multiple times through the early part of the set. After IU East rallied to even the score, Holly Linville delivered a smash from the right side. The Pomeroys surged back ahead 22-20 moments later. The Red Wolves dug in with three straight points and eventually held on for the 27-25 win. 
The Pomeroys led 15-11 in the third after an ace by freshman Amari Morales and a kill by freshman Raymiah Allen, but the Red Wolves would battle back once again. East took the third set 25-20. 
The freshman trio of Linville (7), Jazilyn Davis (6) and Allen (4) combined for 17 of the Pomeroys' 33 kills. Hannah Zuege, the team's leader in kills this season, had six.
Sophomore Evelyn Morales provided a spark with four blocks. 
SMWC coach Ashley Harris saw a lot ot positives Tuesday night. 
"That was some of the best ball we played in several weeks," Harris said. "We did a really good job of taking them out of system when we needed to. It's just key moments we didn't execute fully. We're learning. We're growing. We made a few lineup changes and those players came in and gave us a good look. A lot of positive things. We were leading four or five points in the second and third set. A lot of good moments." 
The Pomeroys return to action Friday night against Brescia in Knoerle Center. It's Youth Night with free admission for all school-aged kids and accompanying adults.