SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — Karla Melendez Martinez recorded 21 kills as Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College swept IU Columbus 25-13, 25-15, 25-20 Friday in the River States Conference Tournament semifinals at the Knoerle Center.
The Pomeroys improved to 40-1 and advanced to face IU Kokomo in the championship match at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at home. Both teams will advance to the NAIA national tournament, marking the first appearance in program history for SMWC.
Melendez Martinez hit .358 with just two errors on 53 attempts, adding eight digs and two block assists. She delivered 10 kills in the second set and nine in the third to help the Pomeroys finish the sweep.
Ariana Cruz-Gonzalez directed the offense with 24 assists and added 10 digs for a double-double.
Gaby Fernandez led SMWC with 16 digs, while
Leishmarie Virella collected 12.
Lily Richards contributed eight assists and two service aces.
Sofia Soto provided an efficient offensive complement, finishing with five kills on six attempts without an error for an .833 hitting percentage. She also recorded three block assists.
Ryan Canter added five kills and hit .400, while
Luci Morris contributed four kills.
SMWC took control early in the opening set, answering IU Columbus' first point with seven straight. Melendez Martinez and Canter each put down two kills during the run, and
Harper Ash added an ace as the Pomeroys built a 7-1 advantage.
The lead grew to 12-2 before SMWC closed out the set with three consecutive points. Soto delivered a kill, Richards followed with an ace, and Soto teamed with Masa Pešic for a block to secure the 25-13 win.
Melendez Martinez took over midway through the second set. With SMWC leading 10-9, she hammered four consecutive kills to push the margin to five. IU Columbus later pulled within 19-15, but the Pomeroys scored the final six points with Virella serving for the last five. Morris and Melendez Martinez each supplied two kills during the closing stretch, with Melendez Martinez finishing the set.
In the third, three straight kills by Melendez Martinez helped SMWC establish a 5-1 lead. IU Columbus battled back within 13-12 before a
Kelstin Burnette kill and two more from Melendez Martinez restored a four-point cushion.
The Pomeroys later used a block by Morris and
Natalie Knigga and an ace from
Selena Sosa to help extend the lead to 22-15.
Kia Knox-Dawkins served an ace to bring SMWC to match point at 24-16. IU Columbus answered with four straight points before an attacking error ended the match.
SMWC finished with 43 kills and a .268 hitting percentage while holding IU Columbus to .064. Cora Baker led the Crimson Pride with eight kills and 16 digs.
