Site: Winston-Salem, N.C. / Varsity Gym

Score:
Salem 3, Methodist 2 (25-13, 17-25, 25-22, 20-18)

Records:
Salem (11-5, 3-3 USA South) / Methodist (9-4, 4-2 USA South)

Up Next:
Salem vs. William Peace | September 28 | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 7 p.m. | Varsity Gym

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Salem senior outside hitter Valeria Rosa Lopez toppled the program's all-time single-match kill record, which had stood for 4,728 days, with a 27-kill, 15-dig outing that resulted in a .353 attack percentage as the Spirits claimed a thrilling five-set victory over Methodist (25-13, 17-25, 25-22, 20-18) on Tuesday evening at Varsity Gym.

Lopez, who had tied the mark set by Christine Tillman with a 23-kill outing on September 16, 2021 versus Ferrum, put her name atop the program's all-time list in kills with her performance against the Monarchs. Tillman established the mark on October 16, 2010, while Kylie Taffer (vs. Agnes Scott; Oct. 25, 2014 / Hollins; Oct. 8, 2015), Hillary McPhatter (Johnson & Wales; Oct. 17, 2014) and Lopez managed to equal the accomplishment.

With the match knotted at 2-2 the two units headed to a fifth and decisive set. Two slams each from Bradley and Lopez allowed Salem to assume an early 5-3 lead, but Methodist tied the score at six-all with a slam by Jeanana Fowler. Bradley and Lopez again answered with kills, while Adalyn Raney drove a strike past the Monarchs' defense, providing Salem with an 11-9 lead.

Jamie Holton eventually tied the set at 12, forcing the first of seven ties, which resulted in an 18-18 deadlock. Bradley put Lopez in serve with match point, with Salem leading 19-18, and following an exchange with the Monarchs, Bradley delivered the game-winning kill as Salem notched its second fifth-set win of the season.

Joining Lopez with solid individual performances were Aspen Bradley and Anna Rymer, who closed with 18 and 17 kills, respectively. Bradley was the most efficient hitter on the evening (.378 attack percentage), helping the Spirits to close with 79 kills and a .277 attack percentage in the victory. The 79 team kills shattered the previous mark of 62, which was set in a five-set match versus Agnes Scott on October 25, 2014 and Averett (Oct. 22, 2019).

Another key offensive figure was Ashlyn Wood, who dished out 35 assists in the triumph, while Rymer added 29. Senior Brianna Moore stepped in and offered two key assists during a key stretch of the third set, substituting for Rymer during a brief break. That trio, along with Jolina Bun, who handed out six of her own, helped Salem set the all-time single-match record for assists in (76). The previous mark of 59 came against Averett on October 22, 2019.

Lopez also anchored the back row for Salem with 15 digs, while Jolina Bun added 14, Macy Nelson and Rymer contributed 13 and Wood topped off a double-double outing with 10.

First Set Recap
The Spirits took control of the game early, scoring seven unanswered points with Abrielle Eckenroth in serve, while Lopez delivered four kills. The Monarchs retaliated, trimming the margin to six, but timely kills from Rymer and Eckenroth allowed Salem to eventually move in front 17-7. Leading 19-9 late in the set, Rymer added a block and the decisive set point to give Salem a 25-13 victory.

Second Set Recap
Methodist responded with force in the second set, posting 18 kills along with a .531 attack percentage in the eight-point decision. After reaching an eight-all deadlock, following a slam from Lopez, the Monarchs put together a 7-3 run, capped off by a Jamie Holton kill to move in front by four. Salem pulled to within three, 18-15, but the Holton drove home three kills down the stretch to knot the match at one-all.

Third Set Recap
With the two teams trading points the game endured 10 ties in the first 24 points, reaching a climatic 12-all tie. Bradley slammed home two key kills, helping Salem move to within four 18-14, before first year Victoria Stratmann and Rymer narrowed the margin to 19-16. With Stratmann in serve, following a strike from Rymer, Salem capitalized on four kills and score seven unanswered and assume the 23-19 advantage. Wood came through with the set point as Salem forged back ahead in the match.

Fourth Set Recap
The Monarchs responded to the challenge and came through with 16 kills in the fourth, posting a .368 attack percentage, to even the match at 2-2. Holton moved the Methodist lead to 10-2 with a slam in the fourth, and despite four kills from Lopez and two off the hand of Bradley, the lead remained eight, 20-12. Fowler provided the power down the stretch, in the form of three kills, as the match moved to a decisive fifth set.

SALEM NOTES
-Lopez, who had tied the mark set by Christine Tillman with a 23-kill outing on September 16, 2021 versus Ferrum, put her name atop the program's all-time mark in kills with her performance against the Monarchs. Tillman established the mark on October 16, 2010, while Kylie Taffer (vs. Agnes Scott; Oct. 25, 2014 / Hollins; Oct. 8, 2015), Hillary McPhatter (Johnson & Wales; Oct. 17, 2014) and Lopez managed to equal the accomplishment.
-Lopez moved to third in kills (859) in her collegiate career.
-Bradley was the most efficient hitter on the evening (.378 attack percentage), helping the Spirits to close with 79 kills and a .277 attack percentage in the victory.
-The 79 team kills shattered the previous mark of 62, which was set in a five-set match versus Agnes Scott on October 25, 2014 and Averett (Oct. 22, 2019).
-The trio of Wood, Rymer and Moore along with Jolina Bun, who handed out six of her own, helped Salem set the all-time single-match record for assists in (76). The previous mark of 59 came against Averett on October 22, 2019.
-Spirits move to 2-0 in five-set matches after wins over Bridgewater (Sept. 2) and Methodist.