Site: Brevard, N.C.

Score: Bob Jones 3, Salem 1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-17)

Records: Salem (6-2) / Bob Jones (7-4)

Up Next: Salem vs. Huntingdon (@Brevard, N.C.), Sept. 17

BREVARD, N.C.— Salem senior Valeria Rosa Lopez capped off her third double-double outing of the season with 14 digs and 11 kills, while Aspen Bradley and Brooklyn Snow added nine kills each. However, it was the quartet of Katherine Hoopes, Faith Blalock, Timbre Cruz and Camila Silva that combined for 57 kills to lead Bob Jones to a four-set victory (23-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-17) at Brevard's Boshamer Gym on Friday afternoon.

Lopez topped double-digit kills for the fourth time this season and was one of three players to reach double figures in digs for the Spirits. Teammate Ella Brameus led the way with 19 digs while McKenzie Tullock contributed 15 digs in three sets. Ashlyn Wood piloted the offense to a .204 attack percentage with 24 assists, by virtue of 52 kills in 162 total attacks, while Ashlee Peek dished out 19 assists.

Bob Jones countered with 65 kills, committing just 19 miscues along the way, to post a .261 attack percentage. Kiersten Hoopes finished off the match with 56 assists, while Cruz led the Bruins' defensive attack with 22 digs.

FIRST SET RECAP
Bob Jones stormed out to a 10-4 lead, reaching double figures on a block by Emma Riddle. The Spirits gradually chipped away the deficit and with the combination of Wood and Brameus in serve, coupled with timely kills from Rymer and Abrielle Eckenroth, pulled to within one, 15-14. Salem took its first lead of the set on a block by Bradley and after three ties used kills from Bradley, Snow and Lopez to move in front 24-22. The decisive point came on a slam from Snow, giving Salem the 1-0 lead.

SECOND SET RECAP
With momentum on its side, Salem assumed a 10-5 lead of its own in the second set, due in large part to two kills from Lopez. A kill by Cruz sparked a 7-0 run by the Bruins, who moved in front 19-15 at just over the midway point of the match. Snow and Bradley drove home kills to keep Salem within striking distance, 22-19, but a Camila Silva evened the match with a kill for the 25th point.

THIRD SET RECAP
Blalock and Cruz delivered two kills each for Bob Jones, who jumped out to a 10-6 lead on a service ace by Silva. Salem rallied behind Tullock, who took advantage of kills from Rymer and Bradley, to pull within one 12-11. The Bruins regained their offense form and managed to stretch the lead back to six, 19-13, allowing just five Salem points down the stretch as they grabbed a 2-1 lead.

FOURTH SET RECAP
The two units battled through five ties to reach a six-all deadlock in the fourth set, which was broken with a three-point outburst from Bob Jones. Salem rallied to draw even at 11-all, before two kills from Blalock and Cruz provided the Bruins with a 16-13 lead. Two kills from Bradley, along with blocks from Rymer and Bradley, kept the game close, but it was the combination of Blalock and Cruz that made the difference in the victory.

MATCH NOTES
-This marks the best start by a Salem volleyball team (6-2) in program history.
-The 15 digs by Tullock are a single-match season high. Her previous best (four) came in a four set clash with Hollins.
-First four-set setback for Salem since October 16, 2021 against N.C. Wesleyan in a tri-match hosted at Greensboro.