OWENSBORO, Ky. — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College controlled Friday's River States Conference match from start to finish, sweeping Brescia University 25-10, 25-11, 25-15.
The Pomeroys improved to 26-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play behind an efficient offensive performance and a defense that kept the Bearcats out of rhythm throughout the match.
SMWC finished with 33 kills and a .282 attacking percentage while holding Brescia to 15 kills and a minus-.096 percentage. The Pomeroys also collected 10 service aces and eight team blocks.
Karla Melendez-Martinez led the attack with eight kills against one error, finishing with a .350 hitting percentage.
Sydni Gardner added five kills and hit .273, while
Masa Pesic contributed four kills and four block assists.
The Pomeroys established control immediately, limiting Brescia to three kills and a minus-.179 percentage in a 25-10 opening-set victory.
SMWC was at its most efficient in the second set, recording nine kills with only one attacking error for a .444 percentage. The Pomeroys held the Bearcats to a minus-.069 mark and rolled to a 25-11 win for a two-set advantage.
The Woods completed the sweep with 13 kills in the third set, its highest total of the match, and pulled away for a 25-15 victory.
Leishmarie Virella powered the service and defensive efforts with four aces and a team-high 11 digs.
Gaby Fernandez and
Natalie Knigga each added 10 digs as SMWC finished with 49 as a team.
Luci Morris led the Pomeroys at the net with five block assists, while Pesic added four.
Sofia Soto recorded two block assists.
SMWC used a balanced setting effort in the victory.
Lily Richards distributed nine assists,
Ayiana Nieves recorded eight and
Ariana Cruz-Gonzalez finished with six. Cruz-Gonzalez also delivered three kills on three attempts and added three service aces.
The Pomeroys return to the road Tuesday, Sept. 29, for a 6 p.m. CT match against the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.
