Ferrum vs. Salem | Tuesday, September 13th | 7:00 p.m.
Varsity Gym | Winston-Salem, N.C.
LAST TIME OUT
Salem volleyball improved to 5-1 on the 2022 after winning three of four matches at the Maroon Classic, hosted by Roanoke College. The Spirits, who posted the second-best mark of any team in the two-day, four-match event, earned victories against N.C. Wesleyan, Randolph and Hollins. The host Maroons earned a five-set win over Salem, resulting in the lone setback for the Spirits this season.
RECAPPING THE 2022 MAROON CLASSIC
Salem volleyball ended a tough six-match, four-day stretch with the best start in program history. The Spirits capped off their 5-1 mark on the season by defeating Randolph (3-0) and Hollins (3-1) in the final day of action at the 2022 Maroon Classic hosted by Roanoke College.
-Aspen Bradley was named All-Tournament at the event, capping off her weekend with 50 kills (3.33 kills/set), a .412 attack percentage, seven blocks (0.47 blocks/set).
-Anna Rymer emerged with 43 kills (2.87 kills/set) along with a .351 attack percentage, nine service aces, 13 digs and nine total blocks (five solo) and 0.60 blocks/set.
-Macy Nelson led the Spirits with 48 digs (3.20 digs/set), five more than Valeria Rosa Lopez who closed with 43 digs and 33 kills.
-Ella Brameus capped off a solid weekend with eight service aces, 39 digs and 24 kills.
-Spirits capped off the tournament with a .243 attack percentage, finishing with 180 kills, along with 17 total blocks (1.13 blocks/set).
SALEM vs. FERRUM
Salem has squared off against Ferrum on six occasions since 2008 with the Panthers owning a 4-2 advantage in the head-to-head series. Ferrum broke a 2-2 tie in the series with a pair of victories in 2021.
The first of those victories by the Panthers came on September 7, 2021 when a well-balanced offensive attack that included four players with five kills resulted in a 25-17, 25-20, 25-22 win at Varsity Gym. Nine days later, the two teams clashed again in Virginia, where the tandem of Taylor Joyner (17 kills) and Anna Rymer (16) sparked the Ferrum offense in a five-set thriller.
Salem is 1-1 all-time against Ferrum at Varsity Gym, claiming their last victory against the Panthers at home on October 14, 2017 in 3-0 fashion by scores of 25-9, 25-23, 25-9.
FAMILIAR FACES, NEW PLACES
One of the most familiar faces to exchange jersey's in the Ferrum-Salem volleyball rivalry is former-Panther-turned-Spirit Anna Rymer. Rymer played the 2021 season at Ferrum before joining her Barry's program at Salem.
Anna Rymer wrapped up the 2021 season by ranking in the Top-5 of nine major statistical categories for the Panthers, including attack percentage (.290-1st), service aces (22-1st), total blocks (54-1st), solo blocks (9-1st), assisted blocks (45-1st), blocks/set (0.60-1st), kills (205-2nd), kills/set (2.28-2nd) and total attacks (497-2nd). She managed double-digit kill performances on nine occasions, including a single-match season-high 17 in a double-double outing against Johnson & Wales on September 14th.
In six matches this season, Rymer has eclipsed the double-digit kill mark on three occasions, including a 21-kill outing in the season-opener against Johnson & Wales. She leads Salem in attack percentage (.398), total blocks (12), solo blocks (seven) and assisted blocks (five), while ranking second on the team in kills (68) and total attacks (133).
BRADLEY NAMED USA SOUTH ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Salem volleyball's Aspen Bradley became the third player in program history to be named as USA South Rookie of the Week in a release from the league office on Monday, September 12th.
Bradley joins Taylor Moulton (2016) and Maggie Hawks (2017) as the only players to earn the recognition from the league. It marked the second award of the weekend for Bradley, who was also named All-Tournament for the 2022 Maroon Classic.
"Aspen had a great opening week of the season," said head coach Barry Rymer. "I am very proud of her hard work. I look forward to seeing all that she can accomplish this season."
The Redmond, Oregon, native capped off her first week of collegiate action with a team high's in kills (73), kills/set (3.32) and total attacks (147). She was second on the unit in solo blocks (four), assisted blocks (six) and total blocks (10).
Bradley reached double-digit kills in five of her six matches during the week, helping the Salem volleyball program notch its best start (5-1) in program history.
WHERE IT STANDS ENTERING THE WEEK
-Salem has five players with at least 30 kills on the season, including Aspen Bradley (73), Anna Rymer (68), Valeria Rosa Lopez (49), Ella Brameus (33) and Abrielle Eckenroth (30).
-Ashlyn Wood leads the way with 133 assists (6.05 assists/set), while Ashlee Peek is second on the unit with 73 (3.84 assists/set). They have helped the Spirits offense average 12.45 kills/set and a .258 attack percentage in six matches.
-Macy Nelson tops the list in digs for Salem. The Walnut Cove, N.C., native has settled into her natural position with the team and has come through with 74 digs (3.36 digs/set) after recording double-digit digs in five of six matches. She was 12 more than Lopez and 13 more than Brameus for Salem.
-Rymer and Bradley have formed one of the best blocking front rows in the USA South Conference, leading the way for a Salem unit that has 25 total team blocks. Rymer tops all blockers with 12 for the Spirits, while Bradley has 10 total blocks to her credit. Eckenroth is third on the team with eight total blocks.
