Winston-Salem, NC-The Salem College volleyball program celebrated its five seniors from the Class of 2018 in a 3-0 USA South win over Mary Baldwin. This class is a large reason the Spirits are having their best ever season in program history. Here are the seniors:
Hawa Conteh will be graduating this spring with a Bachelor of Chemistry and a second Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. Following graduation, Hawa plans on continuing her education in Medical School.
Hawa has been a key member of the volleyball team for the past 4 seasons. She has by far shown the most improvement over her four years and has always been a major motivator for her teammates. When someone gets a kill you will see Hawa jumping up and down, cheering at the top of her lungs.
Bernisha Master will be graduating this spring with a double major in Psychology and Criminal Studies. Following graduation, Bernisha plans on either attending graduate school or joining the Air Force.
In her four years as a Spirit, Bernisha has made a name for herself as a force to be reckoned with at the net. She holds the all-time blocking record at Salem with 254 total career blocks, 94 solo blocks and 160 block assists as well as holding the school record for most blocks in a match, posting 10 total blocks versus Lynchburg College in 2016. She has even appeared on the national level during her junior season where she was ranked 7th in the nation in solo blocks. She was named to the 2014 GSAC All-Freshman Team.
Bernisha is ranked 8th in career kills with 385. She has added 134 digs, 25 assists and 17 aces to her career totals.
Hannah Ogle will be graduating in December with a Bachelors of Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching. Following graduation, Hannah plans on attending graduate school for Athletic Training with the ultimate goal of becoming a Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Hannah joined the volleyball team during her sophomore year and has split time as a setter and defensive specialist. She has always been willing to lend a helping hand to her teammates and pushes everyone around her to be a better player. Hannah was also a member of the Salem College Softball team for 3 seasons.
She currently has 105 digs, 29 assists, 24 aces, and1 kill.
Mariah Sharon will be graduating this spring with a Bachelors of Biochemistry. Following graduation, Mariah plans on working in the distilling or vinification industries.
Mariah has been a jack of all trades these past four year at Salem. She has played as both an outside hitter and defensive specialist during her career and finishes her career ranked 2nd all-time in career digs at Salem with 957. Additionally, Mariah has been a consistent scorer at the service line for the Spirits as she currently holds the program record for most career aces with 129 total aces.
Mariah has added 210 kills, 24 blocks, and 70 assists to her career totals.
Kylie Taffer will be graduating this spring with a Bachelors in Art History and a minor in Arts Management. Following graduation, Kylie plans to attend graduate school.
Kylie has left her mark on the Salem volleyball program as the top kill leader in school history and is just 7 kills shy from reaching 1,000 kills, which would make her the only Spirit to ever eclipse this mark. She hasn't fallen short of receiving any accolades either. She was named GSAC Freshman of the Year in 2014, GSAC All-Conference Team in 2015 and 2nd Team USA South All-Conference West Division in 2016.
Kylie is ranked in the Top 10 of all but two statistical categories – digs and assists – where she currently sits in 11th place all time. Additionally, she has set the program record for kills in a single match, not once but twice, amassing 23 kills in matches versus Agnes Scott in 2014 and Hollins in 2015.
Kylie's career totals are 993 kills, 57 assists, 70 aces, 496 digs and 147 total blocks.
As a class, these seniors have amassed a total of 46 wins over the course of their careers, making them the winningest class in program history. During their time on the court in blue and gold, they were part of the 2014 GSAC Championship Team and were part of the 2016 squad that upset the number 3 seed in the conference tournament in Salem's first year as USA South members. In this their senior season, they have set the programs longest winning streak in school history and have already set the school record for most wins in a season.
Beyond conference and program accolades, last season this senior class was part of a squad that set the NCAA Division III national record for the best hitting percentage in a single match with a .771 hitting percentage in a 3 set victory over Wesleyan College on October 16th, 2016.