Site: Roanoke, Va.
Scores:
Salem 3, Randolph 1 (25-20, 25-11, 22-25, 25-19)
Salem 3, Roanoke 0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-13)
Records: Salem (5-1) / Randolph (4-2) / Roanoke (4-3)
Up Next:
Salem vs. Ferrum | September 8 | Roanoke Tournament | Roanoke, Va. | 4 p.m.
Salem vs. Hollins | September 8 | Roanoke Tournament | Roanoke, Va. | 4 p.m.
ROANOKE, Va. — The Salem volleyball team ran its record to 5-1 on the season with a series of victories at the Roanoke College Tournament on Friday evening against Randolph (3-1 / 25-20, 25-11, 22-25, 25-19) and the host Maroons (3-0 / 25-16, 25-16, 25-13).
The Spirits picked up their fourth win of the season, fifth in the head-to-head series with Randolph, in the first match of the afternoon. Sophomore Abrielle Eckenroth led the way for the Spirits with 15 kills, a single-match career-high, after finishing with a .448 attack percentage. The Belleview, Florida, native was also active on defense with 17 digs, resulting in her first double-double.
Eckenroth was joined in double-digit kills by Anna Rymer (12) and Aspen Bradley (10) as the Spirits amassed 58 total kills and a .243 attack percentage. While that trio led the offense, Jolina Bun (19 digs), Valeria Rosa Lopez (18), Ashlyn Wood (14) and first year Adalyn Raney (10).
Lopez rebounded from a difficult opening match to notch a match-high 12 kills in Salem's sweep of Roanoke in the night cap, marking the third win in the all-time series with the Maroons. Lopez was firing on all cylinders, posting a .385 attack percentage, while Raney and Bradley contributed seven kills apiece. Raney again was active on defense for the Spirits with 17 digs, a match-high, while Lopez added 13. Raney also paired with Rymer to finish with two assisted blocks apiece.
SALEM 3, RANDOLPH 1
First Set Recap: Two kills each from Eckenroth and Bradley helped Salem establish an 8-1 lead in the early stages of the first set. Lopez got into the act herself, stretching the Salem lead to 10-3, before a rally by the WildCats trimmed the deficit to four, 11-7. Rymer drove home a kill of her own, following a pass from Reece Campbell, but Randolph would continue to push for the lead by virtue of three kills and two blocks, resulting in a 15-14 contest. Eckenroth delivered two kills to help extend the Spirits lead to 20-15, before slams from Rymer and Raney closed the door with the five-point victory.
Second Set Recap: The Spirits grabbed an early 6-1 advantage in the second, but Randolph rebound with four straight points to move within one. The Salem offense settled into its rhythm, capitalizing on slams from Lopez, Rymer, Raney and Jacie Jarvis to forge in front 13-5. Jarvis and Raney added a series of kills to help Salem forge in front 19-10. Eckenroth and Rymer delivered kills down the stretch to provide the Spirits with a 2-0 advantage.
Third Set Recap: The two teams endured nine ties in the first 20 points, bringing the game to a 10-all deadlock with the WildCats. Salem eventually moved in front by a pair, but the lead was brief as the teams eventually reached a 20-20 tie. Randolph scored five of the final seven points down the stretch to claim the third set victory.
Fourth Set Recap: The pair of Eckenroth and Rymer, who combined for five kills in the first nine points, helped Salem seize the opportunity to close out the fourth set victory. Bradley tacked on two kills of her own, allowing Salem to remain in front 12-9, before a series of strikes by Eckenroth provided a five-point cushion. Two kills by Rymer, coupled with a Bradley solo block, in the final nine points of the set helped the Spirits clinch the victory.
SALEM 3, ROANOKE 0
First Set Recap: Salem closed out its opening set of the evening session with 14 kills, committing just four errors along the way. Knotted at 10-10, the Spirits took advantage of an attack error along with four kills and two service aces by Raney and classmate Jolina Bun to grab an 18-11 lead. Raney delivered three of the final five points down the stretch to help Salem complete the nine-point victory.
Second Set Recap: The duo of Bradley and Lopez helped the Spirits streak out to a 7-4 lead, combining for five kills. Roanoke retaliated to even the match at nine, but a series of errors by the Maroons coupled with a Rymer ace moved Salem in front by three. Bradley penetrated the Roanoke defense with two kills, while Lopez added two of her own, allowing the Spirits to move in front 20-16. Jarvis made her presence felt with a kill of her own, while Rymer closed out the frame with consecutive service aces, giving Salem the 25-16 win.
Third Set Recap: Raney continued her solid play on the afternoon with a service ace, while Lopez slammed home two kills to provide Salem with the 5-0 advantage. A push by the Maroons trimmed the Salem lead to two, 9-7, but Raney pummeled the defense with three kills and Bradley added a block to spark an 8-1 Spirit run that resulted in a nine-point advantage. Bradley came through with a kill and a block, following a Roanoke timeout, while Lopez and Jarvis added kills of their own, to help Salem cap off its second sweep of the season.
SALEM NOTES
-(vs. Randolph) Sophomore Abrielle Eckenroth led the way for the Spirits with 15 kills, a single-match career-high, after finishing with a .448 attack percentage. The Belleview, Florida, native was also active on defense with 17 digs, resulting in her first double-double.
-Eckenroth was joined in double-digit kills by Anna Rymer (12) and Aspen Bradley (10) as the Spirits amassed 58 total kills and a .243 attack percentage.
-(vs. Roanoke) Valeria Rosa Lopez rebounded from a difficult opening match to notch a match-high 12 kills in Salem's sweep of Roanoke in the night cap. Lopez was firing on all cylinders, posting a .385 attack percentage, while Raney and Bradley contributed seven kills apiece. Raney again was active on defense for the Spirits with 17 digs, a match-high, while Lopez added 13. Raney also paired with Rymer to finish with two assisted blocks apiece.
-First Year Adalyn Raney combined for 27 digs, 15 kills, six service aces and three assisted blocks over the course of two matches.