BREVARD, N.C. – The trio of Taylor Moulton, Madelyn Chappell and Brooklyn Snow, who combined for 33 of the team's 51 total kills, played an integral role in helping the Salem volleyball team improve to 3-2 on the season with a 27-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-11 victory over Brevard on Friday, September 6.
Moulton, who led all Salem hitters with 13 kills (.267 attack percentage), was also responsible for 16 digs. Chappell reached double-digit kills (10), while contributing seven digs along and an assisted block. Snow rounded out double figure kill hitters with 10, adding two digs and a pair of assisted blocks to her total.
Defensively, the Spirits (3-2) were led by Hannah Delcamp, who came through with a match-high 24 digs, while handing out 43 assists. Kathryn O'Connell also made her presence felt for the Salem defense, which limited Brevard (0-4) to a .072 attack percentage, by virtue of 14 digs and three assisted blocks.
"Road wins are always good wins," said head coach Bouaketh Chanthavisouk. "The fans were rooting hard and aiding in the home court advantage. We still have work to do, but I credit the veterans on the floor for their resilience and the athletes on bench for their energy. Hannah made great choices tonight. We had some athletes that were under the weather and she limited their exposure and put them in great position to score."
Salem stormed out to an 8-1 lead in the opening set, capitalizing on a series of kills by Delcamp, Snow and O'Connell in the early going. Brevard fought back, trimming the margin 14-11 on a service error, but two kills from Snow allowed the Spirits to establish an 18-12 advantage. The Tornados retaliated with a 13-7 run, pulling even at 25, before a set error by Hannah Gordon put Valeria Rosa Lopez in serve with a one-point lead. Rosa Lopez came through with a service ace of Mariana Rodriguez, giving Salem the 27-25 win.
The Spirits again established themselves early in the set, grabbing a 7-2 lead in the second, by virtue of two kills from Moulton. Brevard countered with a 5-0 run to pull even, but six kills during a 12-5 run by the Spirits, including two each from Moulton and Chappell, resulted in a 19-12 Salem advantage. Snow put Salem two points from a set victory before the Tornados came through with six unanswered to make for a 23-19 contest. A Brevard attack error coupled with a Chappell kill provided the Spirits with the 2-0 lead in the match and the five-point win.
The two teams traded points in the opening stages of the third set with Salem eventually grabbing an 11-7 lead on a kill by Schneider. The Tornados fought back to pull even at 17, eventually assuming a 20-17 lead, before back-to-back points by O'Connell trimmed the margin to one. Brevard would close the door by scoring the final five points of the match and complete the six-point triumph.
A rejuvenated Salem squad dominated the fourth frame, jumping out to a 9-0 lead behind two kills from Moulton and five unforced errors by the Tornados. The trio of Chappell, Schneider and O'Connell drove home a series of kills as Salem took a commanding 18-3 lead. Consecutive points by Brevard's offense didn't slow the Spirits' front row, which used slams by Delcamp, Chappell and Moulton to move in front 20-10. Snow added three kills down the stretch and Schneider tacked on one of her own as Salem completed the 3-1 win.
The Spirits continue their road swing next weekend when they take part in the Guilford College Invitation on Sept. 13-14, playing William Peace (Sept. 13) and the host Quakers (Sept. 14). For more information on Salem volleyball check out www.salemspirits.com.
