KOKOMO, Ind. — History was made Tuesday night as Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College women's volleyball delivered one of the biggest victories in program history, defeating Indiana University Kokomo 3-1 (25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 25-15) to clinch the 2026 River States Conference regular-season championship and secure the program's first appearance in the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship.
The victory improved the Pomeroys to 35-1 overall and a perfect 12-0 in RSC play, guaranteeing that the road to the River States Conference Tournament championship will run through SMWC.
The monumental win also ended one of the conference's most remarkable streaks. IU Kokomo had not lost a home River States Conference match since Oct. 18, 2019, when the Cougars fell 3-1 to Point Park. SMWC became the first RSC opponent since 2014 to sweep a regular-season series against Kokomo and just the second conference opponent to accomplish the feat since the Cougars joined the league in 2013.
Senior outside hitter Karla Melendez-Martinez delivered a commanding performance in the championship-clinching victory, recording a match-high 27 kills on 73 attacks while adding 15 digs and three total blocks. Melendez-Martinez finished with 29 points and was instrumental in helping the Pomeroys overcome one of the conference's most formidable opponents.
Masa Pesic was nearly unstoppable offensively, collecting 15 kills without a single attack error on 31 swings for a remarkable .484 hitting percentage. Pesic also contributed two total blocks as SMWC finished with 57 kills and a .213 team hitting percentage.
The Pomeroys established their presence early, overcoming a brief opening deficit before taking control behind a balanced offensive attack. Consecutive kills from Pesic helped SMWC establish a 5-3 advantage, while
Ryan Canter and Melendez-Martinez continued to apply pressure. Leading 13-9, the Pomeroys received back-to-back kills from Pesic, followed by a
Natalie Knigga finish, extending the advantage to 16-9 and forcing the Cougars to regroup.
Gaby Fernandez added a service ace to push the lead to 18-10, and although Kokomo mounted a late response, Melendez-Martinez delivered three kills during SMWC's final scoring stretch, including the decisive point in the 25-20 opening victory.
The Pomeroys maintained their momentum in a tightly contested second frame, producing 15 kills while committing just three attack errors. SMWC's defensive presence at the net proved critical, with four team blocks helping the visitors withstand Kokomo's 18-kill offensive effort and claim a narrow 25-22 victory.
Facing a two-set deficit, Kokomo responded with increased pressure at the net, limiting the Pomeroys to nine kills and a .000 hitting percentage while recording seven team blocks to extend the match with a 25-21 decision.
SMWC refused to let the opportunity slip away.
With a conference championship and historic national tournament berth within reach, the Pomeroys delivered a decisive closing performance. SMWC rebounded with 15 kills and just two attack errors in the final frame, hitting .289 while holding Kokomo to a .056 hitting percentage. The Pomeroys pulled away for a convincing 25-15 victory, setting off a championship celebration on the Cougars' home floor.
The performance was supported by a tremendous defensive effort from Fernandez, who anchored the back row with a team-high 22 digs, six assists and a service ace.
Ariana Cruz-Gonzalez added 24 assists and 15 digs, while
Lily Richards contributed 21 assists and eight digs as the Pomeroys utilized both setters to keep their offense moving.
Luci Morris provided a major presence at the net with five kills on nine attempts, hitting .444 while recording five total blocks, including two solo stops. Canter added six kills, while
Leishmarie Virella registered 13 digs as SMWC accumulated 93 digs and nine team blocks in the victory.
For IU Kokomo, Mya Grigsby finished with 16 kills and 17 digs, while Cali Cummings added 13 kills. The Cougars were held to a .138 hitting percentage despite collecting 56 kills and 91 digs.
Beyond the individual performances, Tuesday's victory represented a defining moment for the SMWC volleyball program. The Pomeroys not only secured the RSC regular-season crown but also clinched an automatic qualification to the NAIA National Tournament, marking the first national championship appearance in program history.
As regular-season conference champions, the Pomeroys also earned the right to host the RSC Tournament, bringing postseason volleyball to the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center.
Up Next
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will step outside River States Conference play Saturday, Oct. 31, traveling to Lima, Ohio, for a pair of nonconference matches against the University of Northwestern Ohio. First serves are scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.
The Pomeroys will return home Friday, Nov. 6, for Senior Night against Brescia University (Ky.) at the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m., with SMWC set to recognize its senior class before concluding the regular season.
Postseason play begins Tuesday, Nov. 10, with the RSC Tournament quarterfinals. As the conference's top seed, SMWC will host its quarterfinal matchup at 7 p.m., with the opportunity to continue its championship pursuit on its home floor.
