Site:
Brevard, N.C. | Boshamer Gym
Score:
Salem 3, Brevard 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-20)
Records:
Salem (15-8, 7-6 USA South) / Brevard (8-11, 5-7 USA South)
Up Next:
Salem vs. N.C. Wesleyan | October 21 | Winston-Salem, N.C. | Varsity Gym | 12:00 p.m.
Salem vs. Carolina U. | October 21 | Winston-Salem, N.C. | Varsity Gym | 4:00 p.m.
BREVARD, N.C. — Senior outside hitter Valeria Rosa Lopez reached double-digit kills (14) for the 13th time this season, while Anna Rymer added 13 of her own, helping the Salem volleyball team post its seventh sweep of the season (25-22, 25-21, 25-20) at Brevard when the two USA South Conference programs clashed in Boshamer Gym on Tuesday evening.
The victory over the Tornados, which resulted in 46 total kills (.237 attack percentage) and four total blocks allowed Salem to sweep the regular season series and secure at least a .500 record in 2023. While Lopez and Rymer each reached double figure kills, sophomore Aspen Bradley tallied eight kills and a .400 attack percentage. Bradley was also responsible for all four solo blocks and made three digs.
The back row was highlighted by the performances of Lopez and Macy Nelson, who tallied 19 and 12 digs, respectively. Salem's defense limited the Tornados to a .176 attack percentage, after committing 15 errors, and 36 kills.
First Set Recap
With Ella Brameus and Rymer in serve, Salem established a 6-2 lead, but the Tornados pulled to within one with a 6-3 run of their own. The trio of Rymer, Lopez and Bradley penetrated the Brevard defense with kills, establishing a 14-11 lead. Despite Brevard trimming the margin to one, 15-14, Salem managed to stretch the margin to seven, 22-15, with a series of slams by Rymer. Two unforced errors, along with a service ace by Bailey Lance, trimmed the Salem lead to 24-22. Lopez drove home a kill for set point to give Salem the three-point victory.
Second Set Recap
Brevard flipped the script on Salem in the opening stages of the second set, grabbing a 5-1 lead on an ace from Kendall Rockstad. Brameus and Abrielle Eckenroth ignited the Salem offense as the Spirits evened the game at 16-all on a Brevard miscue. A series of kills from Adalyn Raney, Bradley and Brameus in succession helped provide the Spirits with a 21-17 lead. Rymer followed with two of the final three points of the set to provide a 2-0 lead for Salem.
Third Set Recap
Rymer used the momentum from the second set in the early stages of the third, driving home three kills and a service ace as the Spirits grabbed a 5-2 lead. The Tornados retaliated to even the game at six, but kills from Rymer and Lopez, coupled with an ace from Brameus gave Salem a 15-10 edge. After Brevard trimmed the lead to one, following a pair of aces from Logan Priddy, Rymer used a kill to put herself in serve as the Spirts established an 18-14 lead. Brevard tallied five unanswered points, grabbing a one-point lead, but a slam from Bradley evened the contest at 19. Jolina Bun forced two errors by the Tornados, added a service ace of her own, and capitalized on a Bradley kill and block to help Salem lead 23-19. Lopez drove home the final kill before Brevard committed an attack error to complete the Spirits' sweep.