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

Score:
Greensboro 3, Salem 0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-18)

Records:
Salem (14-8, 6-6 USA South) / Greensboro (10-9, 7-3 USA South)

Up Next:
Salem at Brevard | October 17 | Brevard, N.C. | Boshamer Gym | 6:00 p.m.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Ella Brameus completed her return to the starting lineup for Salem by coming through with nine digs, two kills and two service aces. However, Greensboro's Payton Shiflet drove home a match-high 12 kills, as The Pride captured a three-set (25-20, 25-17, 25-18) victory over Salem in a USA South Conference clash on Thursday evening.

Brameus was joined among Salem leaders by Valeria Rosa Lopez and Aspen Bradley, who tallied six and five kills, respectively. While Brameus led the way for the back row, the Spirits also received eight digs from Jolina Bun and another six from Lopez. Lopez is now 41 digs from tying Zy Henderson for second-most (1,273) in program history.

Shiflet was joined in double-digit kills by the duo of Krista Brantley (11) and Taylor Cotie (10), while Jaylyn Templeton handed out 34 assists. Morgan Mayfield anchored the defensive efforts with 17 digs, while Jade Vrobel added 11.

First Set Recap
After trading the first four points of the frame, Brantley drove home three kills for The Pride, who assumed a 10-5 lead, forcing a Salem timeout. Salem capitalized on three miscues, reaching double figures, before a timely kill by Brantley resulted in an 18-10 advantage for The Pride. Facing a 20-12 deficit, Salem responded with two kills from Rymer, a service ace by Ashlyn Wood along with an assisted block from Bradley and Abrielle Eckenroth, trimming the margin to 22-20. However, it was two kills by Cotie in the waning stages that provided Greensboro with the five-point win.

Second Set Recap
Salem regained its focus during the intermission, grabbing a 6-3 lead to open the set on an emphatic slam from Bradley. Greensboro answered with a 7-2 run, grabbing a 10-8 lead, as the Spirits burned a timeout. An ace by Templeton, coupled with slams from Brantley and Kelci Brooks, forged Greensboro in front 19-14. The Pride allowed just three points down the stretch, while converting two kills by Brantley and Brooks, to move in front by two sets.

Third Set Recap
Looking to avoid surrendering the third set, Salem used kills from the trio of Lopez, Bradley and Brameus to assume a 10-5 lead. Greensboro retaliated with five unanswered points, evening the game at 10, before a block by Haley King provided the Spirits with a 14-12 lead. King, who made her first appearance of the season, and teammate McKenzie Tullock sparked the Salem defense in the set. King followed that block by teaming with Bradley on an attempt by Jade Vrobel to keep the Spirits in front 16-15. Knotted a 17-all, Greensboro closed out the match on an 8-1 run, highlighted by three kills from Cotie, to sweep the season series with the Spirits.