GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Salem volleyball team posted two wins in a USA South Conference tri-match that featured Greensboro and N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Hanes Gymnasium. Salem opened the day by downing N.C. Wesleyan by scores of 25-23, 25-14 and 25-18. Later in the afternoon, the Spirits came through with a 25-21, 14-25, 25-20, 25-22 victory against the host Pride.

MATCH 1: Salem 3, N.C. Wesleyan 0

Salem used 12 kills each from the tandem of Kathryn O'Connell and Brooklyn Snow to complete the regular season sweep of N.C. Wesleyan by scores of 25-23, 25-14 and 25-18 on Saturday afternoon at Hanes Gymnasium on the Greensboro College campus.

The Spirits, who picked up their 12th overall win of the season, also received nine kills from Taylor Moulton and seven from Madelyn Chappell, while posting a .256 hitting percentage. Hannah Delcamp dished out 40 assists, while contributing seven digs, in the victory.

Defensively, Moulton led the way with 15 digs, while O'Connell capped off a double-double effort with 13 digs.

After both teams led by at least three points by the midway point of the opening frame the game reached a 15-all deadlock. Salem grabbed the lead with Corrin Shores in serve and by virtue of an O'Connell kill. Kills from O'Connell and Moulton stretched the lead to 21-18, before the Spirits spent a timeout leading 21-20. The Battling Bishops regained the lead, 22-21, following a slam by Lauren Weaver, before Snow penetrated the defense with a kill. Knotted at 23, Snow came through with a pair of kills to provide Salem with the two-point first set win.

Delcamp took over in serve for Salem to open the second and emerged with two service aces, while teammate Anna Schneider added two kills, giving the Spirits a 7-0 lead. That lead grew to double figures, 13-3, following a miscue by N.C. Wesleyan's Lauren Weaver. The battling Bishops cut the lead to seven, 17-9, but timely kills down the stretch by Snow, Chappell, O'Connell and Moulton provided the Spirits with the two-set advantage.

With the Salem offense clicking on all cylinders, behind the play of Snow and O'Connell, the Spirits opened up a 10-5 lead in the third set. N.C. Wesleyan rallied, putting together an 8-3 run, to pull even at 13. The Spirits regained their composure following a timeout and added kills by Snow and Chappell to pull in front 20-15. N.C. Wesleyan managed just three points the remainder of the match, while O'Connell and Tricia Brown converted kills for the Spirits in the 25-18 win.

MATCH 2: Salem 3, Greensboro 1

Taylor Moulton drove home a match-high 16 kills, while Madelyn Chappell and Kathryn O'Connell added 12 each, to lead the way for the Salem offense that tallied 49 kills in a four-set win over rival Greensboro.

Moulton, who posted a .245 hitting percentage in the match, was also active on defense with 14 digs and two assisted blocks. O'Connell wrapped up the day with a .356 attack percentage while adding 12 digs, two solo blocks and two assisted blocks.

The tandem of Hannah Delcamp and Valeria Rosa Lopez led the way in digs, notching 26 and 21, respectively, as Salem tallied 115 digs as a unit. Delcamp was also responsible for 42 assists, resulting in her sixth double-double.

The opening set of the match witnessed 11 ties in the first 34 points, reaching a 17-all deadlock following a service error by Greensboro's Alycia Artis. Four points and two ties later, Salem broke the 19-19 score with a kill by Chappell. Corrin Shores picked up two points in serve for the Spirits, who capitalized on an unforced error and a Shores service ace, as they opened up a 22-20 lead. A block by Chappell and O'Connell, followed by kills from Moulton and O'Connell completed the Salem win.

Greensboro responded with a strong offensive performance in the second, opening up a 10-2 lead by virtue of six unforced errors and a service ace by Dixie Fulk. The Pride stretched their lead to 18-5, despite two kills from Chappell, as they forced the second Salem timeout. Moulton would register three of Salem's five kills down the stretch as Greensboro knotted the match at one with the 11-point win.

Salem regained its previous form in the third set, breaking a five-all deadlock with a 5-1 run that was highlighted by two kills from Moulton. Greensboro answered with a 4-0 run, knotting the game at 10, but the service game of Anna Schneider, along with kills by Chappell and O'Connell, forged the Spirits back in front 19-15. Chappell converted two kills down the stretch, while Moulton, Snow and O'Connell contributed one kill each, to help Salem earn the five-point win.

The two teams battle waged into the fourth set with Salem grabbing the 8-3 lead before the Pride came through with a 6-1 rally to pull even at nine. With its offense rolling, Greensboro remained in rhythm and assumed a 14-11 lead before the Spirits received a series of kills from Brooklyn Snow, Moulton and O'Connel to assume a 17-16 lead. Timely kills by the trio of Schneider, Moulton and O'Connell pushed Salem in front 23-19. Greensboro briefly trimmed the lead to two, 23-21, but kills from Schneider and Chappell slammed the door and completed the Spirits' win.

The Spirits return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 30, when they host Pfeiffer at 7 p.m. at Varsity Gym. For more information on Salem volleyball check out www.salemspirits.com.