Pomeroys Snap Red Wolves' Win Streak with 3-2 Win

SAINT MARY OF THE WOODS, Ind. – The Saint Mary of the Woods women's volleyball team did something to the Red Wolves that hadn't been done in the last 15 games.

The Pomeroys defeated IU East in five sets on Tuesday, 26-28, 20-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-12. SMWC came from behind to win the last three sets.

With the loss, the Red Wolves fall to 24-7 on the season and 16-2 in conference play. The only other loss for IU East was against IU Kokomo in September.

Jessica Swimm tallied a team-high 22 kills. Brooke Lepper had 17 kills and Teah Barrett Matthews followed up with 10 kills. Freshly named NAIA Setter of the Week Reece Shirley had 49 assists, 17 digs, and three kills.

The Red Wolves didn't start off the game that well. The Pomeroys started the first set with a 5-0 opening run. The Red Wolves led briefly in the middle of the set and didn't lead again until the last two points scored in the set gave them a 1-0 lead. SMWC stared at set-point three times before the Red Wolves stole the point. Lepper tallied the last two points.

In the second, both teams kept trading leads early on. The Red Wolves were able to get some breathing room in the middle of the set. Tied 14-14, the Red Wolves went on an 11-6 run to close the set out. Payton Schultheis and Barrett Matthews tallied kills in the last two points.

The Pomeroys led from start to finish in the third set and led for the majority of the fourth set to tie the game 2-2 and force the fifth and deciding set.

After SMWC scored the first point of the set, a kill from Lepper and a handling error from the Pomeroys, gave IU East a 2-1 lead. The set was later tied six times, with the Pomeroys taking the last lead for the win to snap the Red Wolves' win streak.

The Red Wolves will be back on the court on Friday as they host Shawnee State at 7 p.m. on Lingle Court.