Hollins vs. Salem | September 26 | Varsity Gym | 6 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Salem volleyball wrapped up its first USA South tri-match of the season, held in Staunton, Va., at Mary Baldwin, by completing a pair of four-set victories over Methodist (25-18, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19) and the host Fighting Squirrels (25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 25-16) on Saturday, September 24th. It marks the third time this season that Salem has won at least two games in a row.
RETURNING HOME
The Spirits return to Varsity Gym where they are 2-1 on the season. Salem dropped its most recent outing at home, suffering a 3-1 setback to USA South Conference rival Greensboro on Wednesday, Sept. 21st. Monday's clash with Hollins is one of two home matches for Salem this week, who also faces USA South foe Southern Virginia on Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m.
ANALYZING THE SALEM-HOLLINS SERIES
Monday evening marks the 12th all-time meeting with Hollins and second in the 2022 season. The two teams met on September 10th, in the second day of action at the 2022 Maroon Classic hosted by Roanoke.
Salem has won the last five head-to-head meetings to even the all-time series at 6-6. The Spirits claimed the first of their six wins on September 27, 2016 at Hollins. Four of the six victories for Salem in streak have come in 3-0 fashion.
LOOKING BACK TO THE LAST MEETING VERSUS HOLLINS
Salem closed out the two-day, four-match event with a four-set victory (22-25, 25-23, 25-8, 25-17) over Hollins. Aspen Bradley was the primary source of offense in the match, delivering 16 kills in 31 attempts, closing with a .387 attack percentage. Anna Rymer complemented Bradley with nine kills in 15 attempts, posting a .467 attack percentage, while Macy Nelson was responsible for 12 digs.
The Spirits were in offensive sync throughout with a .267 attack percentage, closing with 42 kills and limiting themselves to 15 miscues.
WHERE IS STANDS AFTER THIS WEEKEND
First year standout Aspen Bradley capped off a tri-match clash against Methodist and Mary Baldwin with a combined 28 kills, moving her team-leading season total to 138 at a clip of 3.07 kills/set. Bradley has limited herself to just 36 miscues, resulting in a team-high .347 attack percentage.
Bradley is one of three Spirits with 100 kills on the slate, along with Anna Bradley (119) and Valeria Rosa Lopez (114). That trio has helped provide Salem with a bulk of its 570 kills (12.67 kills/set) and their efficiency has resulted in a team .227 attack percentage.
Another key to the offensive success can be attributed to setters Ashlyn Wood and Ashlee Peek, who have 266 and 172 assists, respectively.
Another first year, Ella Brameus, has made her presence felt on the defensive side for Salem with a team-high 156 digs (3.47 digs/set). Brameus has seven double-digit dig performances on the season, including a pair 20-dig performances against Huntingdon (23) and Methodist (21). Both Macy Nelson and Lopez are tied for second in digs with 135.
On the front row, Anna Rymer has been a dominate force with 32 total blocks, including 10 solo. She has paired with Aspen Bradley, who has 25 total blocks (11 solo), to guide Salem to 65 total blocks.
