Paul Quinn Pushes Saint Mary-of-the-Woods but Falls in Straight Sets
Austin, Texas – September 6, 2025 Paul Quinn volleyball battled hard against nationally competitive Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on Saturday morning at the Branch Gym in Austin, but the Tigers ultimately fell in three sets (25–22, 25–23, 25–14). Despite the loss, Paul Quinn showed resilience in the first two sets before fatigue set in against the powerful Pomeroys, who improved to 14–1 on the season.
Set One: Hot Start for the Tigers
Paul Quinn opened strong, hitting an efficient .360 as A'Niyah Harrison led the way with 4 kills in the frame. The Tigers kept pace with SMWC thanks to balanced contributions from Carrie Weston and JaQuelle Felton, pushing the Pomeroys deep into the set before dropping it 25–22.
Set Two: Another Nail-Biter
The second set was a back-and-forth affair with Paul Quinn recording 12 kills as a team. Harrison and Weston again led the charge, while Spirit Phipps distributed 7 assists and chipped in a service ace. The Tigers kept the score within one possession for much of the frame but fell just short, 25–23.
Set Three: Pomeroys Close Strong
SMWC showed why they entered the match 13–1, hitting .250 as Karla Melendez (17 kills, .438) and Masa Pesic (9 kills, .421) proved difficult to slow down. Paul Quinn struggled offensively in the final set, hitting .000 with 8 kills and 8 errors as the Pomeroys secured the sweep 25–14.
Paul Quinn Leaders
- A'Niyah Harrison – 10 kills, .250 hitting, 12 digs, 10.0 points
- Carrie Weston – 7 kills, 7.5 points
- JaQuelle Felton – 5 kills, .500 hitting, 6.0 points
- Makaila Piggee – 2 kills, 4 block assists, 5.0 points
- Spirit Phipps – 14 assists, 6 digs, 1 ace
By the Numbers
- Hitting %: SMWC .309 | Paul Quinn .149
- Kills: SMWC 45 | Paul Quinn 31
- Digs: SMWC 46 | Paul Quinn 44
- Aces: SMWC 11 | Paul Quinn 4
Takeaway
While the Tigers dropped to 2–8 overall, the performance against a 14–1 SMWC team highlighted their ability to compete against top opponents. With Harrison continuing to shine as the offensive leader and Weston providing steady production, Paul Quinn showed depth and fight—particularly in the first two sets. The challenge now will be turning close sets into match wins as conference play approaches.