SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — IU Northwest volleyball dropped both of its matches Saturday at the Showdown in the Woods, falling to Johnson University (Tenn.) in three sets before battling host Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in a four-set loss.

Game 1: Johnson (Tenn.) 3, IU Northwest 0
IU Northwest dropped its Day 2 opener in straight sets, 25-14, 25-12, 25-12, inside the Knoerle Center.

Sophomore Kaelan Murphy and junior Gabi Lilovich paced the RedHawks with five kills apiece, while freshman setter Raniyah Preston added eight assists and six digs. Trinitie Lintner posted a solo block and two block assists to lead the defense at the net.

In the first set, an early Lintner stuff block and a Preston-to-Lindsey Krueger connection pulled IU Northwest within 6-5 before the Royals surged behind outside Abigail Brown to take control and close it 25-14.

Johnson opened the second set on a 4-0 run. Murphy stopped the stretch with a side-out kill, and Lilovich added a transition swing to trim the deficit to 8-4. Another Royals push stretched the margin to 18-8, and Johnson closed the frame 25-12.

The RedHawks grabbed a 3-1 lead to open the third on a Lintner kill followed by a tandem block from Lintner and Lilovich. Johnson answered with a serving burst that included aces from Anna Birling and Marissa McMahon to move ahead 10-5 and finish the sweep 25-12.

Game 2: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods 3, IU Northwest 1
In the afternoon, IU Northwest pushed host Saint Mary-of-the-Woods before falling 25-11, 25-21, 19-25, 25-20. Krueger paced the RedHawks with nine kills, while Lilovich added 10 and Preston chipped in 15 assists.

SMWC jumped out to an early lead in the first set and held control throughout, taking the opener 25-11. The RedHawks responded in the second, erasing a 12-7 deficit to tie it at 12 behind kills from Murphy and Lilovich. A Preston ace later brought IUN within one, but the Pomeroys closed on a late run to win 25-21.

IU Northwest struck back in the third, as Krueger and Murphy sparked a 7-1 run to build a 17-11 advantage. A Lintner block and steady serving from Preston helped close out the 25-19 win.

The fourth set stayed tight early, with Krueger and Lilovich keeping the RedHawks within one at 13-12. But the Pomeroys pulled away behind Karla Melendez at the net, sealing the match 25-20.

IU Northwest continues its road stretch on Wednesday, Sept. 3, traveling to Davenport, Iowa, for a CCAC matchup against Saint Ambrose University, who is receiving national votes.