HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College women's volleyball continued its unbeaten start to the 2026 season Saturday, defeating Madonna University (Mich.) in four sets before sweeping host Huntington University (Ind.) to close out the Huntington Invitational with a perfect 4-0 record.
The Pomeroys opened Saturday with a 25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 25-14 victory over Madonna before returning to the court to earn a straight-set win over a Huntington (25-13, 25-11, 26-24) squad that received votes in the preseason NAIA Top 25 poll.
SMWC took control of the opener against Madonna after the teams split the first two sets. The Pomeroys hit .367 in the third set with 15 kills against four errors before dominating the fourth, holding the Crusaders to a .000 hitting percentage to put the match away.
Senior
Masa Pesic led an efficient SMWC attack, finishing with 13 kills and only one error on 25 attempts for a .480 hitting percentage.
Karla Melendez Martinez added 13 kills and 10 digs for a double-double, while
Ryan Canter contributed nine kills.
Natalie Knigga added seven kills while hitting .333, and
Luci Morris finished with four kills on eight swings.
The Pomeroys totaled 56 kills and hit .237 as a team while limiting Madonna to 38 kills and a .076 hitting percentage. SMWC's defense collected 72 digs, led by
Gaby Fernandez with a match-high 25. Fernandez also contributed four assists.
SMWC received balanced production from its setters.
Ariana Cruz-Gonzalez handed out a team-high 23 assists, while
Ayiana Nieves recorded nine.
After dropping the second set to Madonna, the Pomeroys responded emphatically, outscoring the Crusaders 50-33 over the final two sets.
The Pomeroys carried that momentum into the tournament finale against host Huntington, earning a 25-22, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 victory to complete a perfect weekend. SMWC controlled the match after a tight opening set, steadily pulling away behind consistent offense and strong defensive pressure.
Karla Melendez Martinez again paced the attack with 13 kills, while
Masa Pesic added another 13 kills on efficient swings.
Ryan Canter chipped in five kills, and
Hope Schriber led Huntington with 10 kills in the effort.
SMWC finished the match with 63 points, 56 kills, and a .237 hitting percentage while holding Huntington to 38 kills and a .076 mark. The Pomeroys also out-dug the Foresters 72-—highlighted by Fernandez's match-high 25 digs.
The victory was another early-season test for SMWC, with Huntington entering the season among the teams receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll.
Saturday's victories followed a pair of straight-set wins Friday over Wilberforce University (Ohio) and Indiana University South Bend, giving SMWC four victories through its first two days of the season.
The Pomeroys leave Huntington
4-0 after winning 12 of the 14 sets they played during the opening weekend of the 2026 campaign.
SMWC returns to tournament play next weekend at the
Mount Mary Invitational in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Pomeroys open the event Friday, Aug. 21, against
Goshen College (Ind.) at 2:45 p.m. CT before facing
Judson University at 6:45 p.m. CT.
Tournament play continues Saturday, Aug. 22, when SMWC faces host
Mount Mary University at 10 a.m. CT and
Missouri Valley College at 2 p.m. CT.
