St Mary of the Woods, Ind. – The Saints played the Pomeroys one more time this afternoon (Apr. 13) for their final match of the season. AQ was hoping to finally break the streak of falling in four sets as had become so common through this rebuilding season. AQ and Saint Mary of the Woods split the first two sets as both teams picked up commanding victories. However, similar to last night, SMWC took down the next two sets to claim another four-set victory.

Saint Mary of the Woods 3, Aquinas 1 (25-19, 13-25, 25-18, 25-22)

The Gil kill was alive to start the match as Chase Gil put down consecutive kills to move the score to 6-5. SMWC responded with three points, but AQ put together an 8-1 run to take a 13-10 lead. Several points later, the two teams would trade massive runs. The Pomeroys claimed five consecutive points to go up 17-14. AQ responded with a five-point run of its own to take the lead back. However, the hosts ripped off eight consecutive points as a rebuttal to claim the opening set.

Aquinas seemed to do everything right in the second set. Ariq Casas recorded four consecutive aces, Gil had an incredible four solo blocks, and the Saints put down eight kills to win 25-13 and tie the match.

The third set was far more competitive as the two sides began trading points. Errors plagued both teams, but the Saints trailed just 15-13 at the midway point of the set. The Pomeroys took five of the next six points to put AQ behind by six, but Aquinas rallied with kills from Leo-Paul Rousseau and Jacob Davidson to cut the deficit to just three.

Unfortunately, SWMC would claim five of the final six points to close out the set 25-18.

Saint Mary of the Woods once again jumped out to an early lead in the final set, leading 14-10. However, a five-point AQ run that included kills from Connor Staats and Gil gave AQ the lead. A service error and another Staats kill had AQ ahead 17-15 with the Saints battling for the final time this season.

In what has been a common theme throughout the season, Saint Mary of the Woods put together a run after Aquinas took the lead. The Pomeroys took five of the ensuing seven points to place AQ on the verge of defeat.

A pair of Pomeroy errors tied the set at 21, but a couple of kills and a block gave the hosts match point. Quinn Silverman staved off the season finale for one more point with a kill, but an emphatic SMWC kill put an end to the match with a score of 25-22.

By the Numbers

The match was very balanced between the two teams. AQ led in aces (7-6) and blocks (11-10). Saint Mary of the Woods led in kills (39-31), hitting percentage (.102-.000) assists (38-31), and digs (47-44).

Staats led the team with nine kills and posted seven digs. Gil recorded seven kills, two aces, five solo blocks, and three digs.

Up Next

The Saints look to put the 2024 rebuilding season in the rearview mirror after the season finale today. AQ will look to continue rebuilding and improving for the 2025 season.