Grenadiers Outlast St. Mary-of-the-Woods In Home Finale

NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast volleyball team defeated St. Mary-of-of-the-Woods in five sets on Tuesday.

IU Southeast roared out to a quick 11-2 lead in the first set. Maggie Purichia and Jessi Kramer combined for five kills to spark the rally.

After consecutive Pomeroy attack errors extended the IU Southeast lead to 16-9, SMWC cut the deficit to 17-15 with 6-1 run.

The set was tied at 21 but a block by Alexis Franks and Ella Brooks followed by another attack error pushed the IU Southeast lead to 23-21. After a Pomeroy kill, Purichia answered with a kill and an ace by Averee Yoder won the set for IU Southeast.

The second set was very close for much of the period. The Pomeroys took a 17-14 lead but Kramer answered with a kill. SMWC closed the set on a 8-3 run to tie the match.

The Grenadiers took an 18-14 lead in the third set after back-to-back kills by Abigail Vogel. Later in the set, an ace by Lexi Striegel pushed the lead to 21-16.

But a 6-0 SMWC run sent the Pomeroys in front. They extended their lead to 23-21 but a kill by Brooks and one by Abby Ruzanka tied the frame.

Two-straight kills by Hannah Zuege won the set for SWMC.

With the fourth set tied at 12, back-to-back attack errors (one on a block by Vogel and Kramer) saw the Grenadiers take a 14-12 lead.

A service error, Brooks kill and two attack errors extended the Grenadier lead to 20-14. But a late rally tied the set at 22.

Alexis Franks had a kill and a block assist with Kramer to force set point. Then an ace by Brooks tied the match at two sets apiece.

The final set belonged to IU Southeast. Alexis Franks had two kills and Maggie Purichia had three to open a 8-2 lead.

The Pomeroys cut the lead to 10-6 but three-straight errors put the match out of reach. A kill by Brooks and an ace by Cate Murphy won the match for the Grenadiers.

Ella Brooks had 14 kills and Maggie Purichia added 11 in the win. Alexis Franks had nine and added 1.5 blocks. Jessi Kramer had eight kills and four blocks.

Cate Murphy had 26 assists and Averee Yoder led IU Southeast with four aces.

IU Southeast travels to WVU Tech and Rio Grande this weekend to conclude the regular season.