MILWAUKEE — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College women's volleyball capped an unbeaten weekend at the Blue Angel Bash with a pair of straight-set victories Saturday, sweeping Mount Marty University and Missouri Valley College.
SMWC opened the day with a 25-12, 25-19, 25-21 victory over Mount Marty before closing the tournament with a 25-21, 25-12, 25-14 win over Missouri Valley.
The Pomeroys controlled the opening match from the start, hitting .393 in the first set and finishing with a .225 attack percentage while holding Mount Marty to .064.
Ryan Canter and
Masa Pesic shared the team lead with nine kills apiece, while Karla Melendez-Martinez added eight. SMWC also caused problems from the service line with 11 aces, including three each from
Gaby Fernandez and Melendez-Martinez.
Fernandez anchored the defense with a match-high 21 digs, while Melendez-Martinez recorded 16.
Ariana Cruz-Gonzalez handed out 18 assists and
Ayiana Nieves added 13.
SMWC finished with advantages in kills, 38-28; assists, 36-26; digs, 52-47; and aces, 11-2.
The Pomeroys carried the momentum into their second match and turned in one of their most efficient offensive performances of the weekend against Missouri Valley.
SMWC totaled 41 kills against just 12 attacking errors to hit .269 for the match. The Pomeroys saved their best offensive set for the third, hitting .355 with 14 kills and only three errors.
Melendez-Martinez led the attack with 10 kills and added 14 digs for a double-double. Canter and Pesic finished with seven kills apiece.
Lily Richards directed the offense with a team-high 19 assists, while Cruz-Gonzalez contributed 13. Fernandez again led the back row with 17 digs, and
Leishmarie Virella added 13.
Luci Morris paced the Pomeroys at the net with four blocks.
SMWC held Missouri Valley to a .105 attack percentage and finished with a 41-27 advantage in kills, a 40-27 edge in assists and a 63-45 advantage in digs.
The two victories completed a perfect four-match trip to Milwaukee for the Pomeroys and improved SMWC to 8-0 on the season.
Up Next
SMWC returns home next weekend to host the
Showdown in the Woods, presented by the Terre Haute Convention & Visitors Bureau, at the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center.
The Pomeroys open tournament play Friday, Aug. 28, against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma at noon ET before facing Johnson University-Tennessee at 8 p.m.
SMWC continues Saturday, Aug. 29, against Mount Mary University at
3 p.m. before closing its tournament schedule against Wright State Lake University at 7 p.m.
Live video and live statistics for SMWC matches will be available at
SMWCAthletics.com.
