SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's volleyball team saw its record-breaking 2026 season come to a close Tuesday evening, falling in a five-set thriller to Cumberland University (Tenn.) in the River States Conference Quarterfinals at the Knoerle Center.
Cumberland (15-12) edged Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (27-9) by set scores of 14-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13 in a tightly contested match that featured 20 ties and multiple lead changes across the final two sets.
The Pomeroys opened strong, hitting .364 in the first set behind a balanced offensive attack to take early control. SMWC responded again in the third set, posting a .370 hitting percentage to regain the lead at 2-1. However, Cumberland surged late, including a dominant .706 hitting performance in the fourth set, to force a decisive fifth.
In the final frame, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods battled point-for-point but ultimately came up just short as Cumberland closed the match on a late run.
Bentley Meyer led the Pomeroys with 15 kills, while
Yammiel Martinez added 14 kills and three blocks in a strong all-around effort.
Tyler Duranceau contributed 11 kills and a team-high nine digs, anchoring both sides of the ball.
At setter,
Michael Olak dished out 28 assists, while
Ethan Ricketts added 20 assists in a two-setter system that kept the offense balanced throughout the match. Defensively,
Noah Boyett and Martinez each recorded three blocks, helping SMWC total nine team blocks.
Despite the loss, the Pomeroys capped one of the most successful seasons in program history. The 27 victories mark the most in program history, and Tuesday's contest represented the first home postseason match ever hosted by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's volleyball. The senior class also closes its career having produced three consecutive winning seasons, helping elevate the program to new heights.
SMWC concludes the 2026 campaign with a 27-9 overall record.
