Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Pomeroys won the school’s first USCAA D1 Volleyball National Championship on Saturday, Nov. 13, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. SMWC defeated Bluefield State College in three sets to win the championship match. The Pomeroys’ first volleyball championship came in head coach Ashley Harris’ first year at the helm.
The Pomeroys lost only two sets during the entire tournament, defeating University of Maine-Fort Kent and D’Youville College on Thursday to advance to the semifinals on Friday. They won over Carlow University to move on to the championship game.
Jacelyn Rivas and Hannah Zuege each had 15 kills, while Adrienne Roberts registered 36 assists. Rivas also had 14 digs, and Evelyn Arreola produced 11 digs to win against Bluefield State College. Zuege, Rivas and Roberts were named to the All-Tournament team and Zuege was named the 2021 Tournament MVP.
Harris was elated with the efforts of her team. “I am so proud of this team and everything that they have accomplished this season. They fought through a ton of adversity and accomplished something never before done in school history. This program is built around culture, and we are champions today because of that culture and an amazing group of women.”
Brennan Randolph, vice president for enrollment management and institutional technology, who oversees athletics, said, “In just three months, coach Ashley Harris and assistant coach Ian Harris have built a team full of grit and determination with a focus on team culture. Congratulations to the entire team on their efforts to win the College’s first volleyball championship.”
Zuege and Alondra Garcia were selected first-team USCAA Women’s Volleyball Division I All-Americans, while Roberts was named honorable mention.