Site:
Raleigh, N.C. | Weatherspoon Athletic Center
Score:
Meredith 3, Salem 0 (25-23, 25-13, 25-18)
Records:
Salem (23-10) / Meredith (24-6)
RALEIGH, N.C. — Fittingly, Salem senior Valeria Rosa Lopez capped off what proved to be the final match of her collegiate career as the team leader in kills (seven), while sophomore Aspen Bradley came through with six. However, it was 41 total kills by Meredith, including 12 off the hand of Lauren Bissette, that helped first-seeded Meredith advance to the USA South Conference Tournament Championship by scores of 25-23, 25-13, 25-18.
Lopez was one of seven Spirits with at least two kills in the match, while Ashlyn Wood was the most efficient hitter with a .705 attack percentage. Macy Nelson wrapped up the final game of her Salem career with a team-best 19 digs, while Jolina Bun and Wood led the way with 13 and 12 digs, respectively.
Lopez capped off her four-year career at Salem with 71 blocks (56 assisted) 130 service aces, 1,023 kills and 1,362 digs, which is seven fewer than Salem's all-time dig leader Taylor Moulton. Lopez played in 115 matches for the Spirits.
As for Nelson, her career draws to a close with 790 digs, 156 assists, 21 service aces after playing in 74 matches in three seasons. Along with Lopez and Nelson, Salem will also lose seniors Nikita Sizemore and Brianna Moore. Sizemore's career included 95 kills, 88 digs and 15 blocks over 42 matches, while Moore tallied 498 assists, 177 digs and three assisted blocks in 38 matches.
First Set Recap
After a late arrival to Weatherspoon Athletic Center, Salem opened the match on a 3-0 run, highlighted by kills from Anna Rymer and Eckenroth, but Meredith answered to force a three-all tie. The Spirits regained their form, putting together a 7-2 run, capped off by a kill from Jacie Jarvis. But in a set of runs, the Avenging Angels countered with a run of their own, knotting the game at 15 with a slam from Lillie Davis. Meredith would eventually stretch the lead to five, 21-16, forcing a second timeout by the Spirits. Two unforced errors by Meredith, coupled with a service ace by Macy Nelson, helped Salem pull even at 23. But it was a series of kills from Caitlyn Russell that made the difference in the two-point victory by the Avenging Angels.
Second Set Recap
Meredith established a 6-4 lead early in the second, following a kill from Emma Duncan, and despite slams from Eckenroth and Rymer, Salem was unable to keep pace. Bradley put Salem into double figures, despite trailing 13-10, before a series of strikes by Sara Dees stretched the lead to 19-10 for the top-seeded Avenging Angels. A timeout by the Spirits was not enough to derail the Meredith offense, which accounted for six of the final nine points.
Third Set Recap
Looking to secure its 14th home victory of the season, Meredith bolted out to a 6-3 lead in the third set. The Spirits answered with kills from Lopez and a block by Bradley, trimming the margin to 7-6, before eventually pulling even at nine-all on a series of unforced errors. After four ties, which resulted in a 14-14 deadlock, two Kinley Copeland kills provided the Avenging Angels breathing room with a 19-15 lead. Bradley delivered a slam for the 17th Salem point, but Meredith allowed just one point down the stretch to secure the sweep, its second of the USA South Conference Tournament.
