WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem volleyball team heads to Bridgewater, Virginia on Friday, September 3rd, to take part in the Route 42 Classic, hosted by Bridgewater College. The two-day, three-match event, will first pit Salem against the host Eagles on Friday at 7 p.m. Salem returns to the court to face Eastern Mennonite (10 a.m.) and Marymount (2 p.m.) on Saturday, September 4th.
Friday's match marks the first of the season for the Spirits, who last took the court at the USA South Tournament in Danville, Va., on November 5, 2019. Salem did not compete in any athletic events due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020-21 season.
The Spirits, who capped off the 2019 season with a 14-14 overall record and a 10-6 mark in league play, return to action with a roster that includes five first-year athletes, two sophomores and two juniors.
FIRST SEASON UNDER RYMER: Salem will be under the guidance of first-year head coach Barry Rymer.
While Rymer is new to Salem, he begins his second coaching stint at a collegiate level, after serving as an assistant coach at Catawba on two occasions under Ginger Hamric. He coached at Catawba from 1999-2003 and later from 2006-2009, helping the Indians capture 189 wins along the way to a pair of South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Championships in 2000 and 2002.
Rymer comes to Salem after spending the last seven years at South Rowan High School where he served as the varsity assistant and jayvee head coach since 2015 and as the head coach of the beach volleyball program since 2018.
RYMER SHARES THOUGHTS ON 2021 SEASON: "I have really enjoyed my first month at Salem. I love the school and the players. We have a small roster but I am excited about working to improve our skills and be competitive in our matches this season. I think the girls will be excited to have a chance to play a game after missing all of last year."
USA SOUTH PRESEASON POLL PLACED SALEM NINTH: The USA South Athletic Conference's volleyball coaches released their 2021 preseason polls on Friday, August 27th. Salem, which returns to the court after a 21-month layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was predicted to finish ninth according to the preseason pollsters.
Each divisional preseason poll only includes votes from coaches within that particular division-only. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.
PREVIEWING THE OPPOSITION
Bridgewater: Picked to finish fourth in the ODAC Preseason Polls, Bridgewater finished the unconventional spring season with an 8-5 record. The Eagles reached the ODAC semifinals in the spring.
Bridgewater has just two seniors on the roster, Jessica Bissmeyer and Hope Jennings, along with three juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen. Jennings capped off the spring slate with a team-best 83 kills (1.77 kills/set) and was second in total digs (134). She also guarded the net with 15 blocks (12 assisted blocks).
Salem All-Time Series vs. Bridgewater
Bridgewater leads series 6-0
| Date | Season | Opponent | Result | Score | Set Scores |
| O10 | 2008 | vs. Bridgewater ^ | L | 0-3 | 14-25,11-25,15-25 |
| O19 | 2013 | at Bridgewater # | L | 0-3 | 15-25,13-25,23-25 |
| S3 | 2016 | vs. Bridgewater ! | L | 0-3 | 17-25,18-25,16-25 |
| S9 | 2017 | vs. Bridgewater # | L | 2-3 | 18-25,25-23,25-22,20-25,5-15 |
| S1 | 2018 | at Bridgewater ! | L | 2-3 | 25-21,25-21,17-25,23-25,4-15 |
| A30 | 2019 | at Bridgewater ! | L | 0-3 | 19-25,15-25,15-25 |
Eastern Mennonite: Also a member of the ODAC, Eastern Mennonite was tabbed seventh in the Preseason Polls. The Royals make their way back to the court after returning to the ODAC tournament last year for the first time in three seasons. A thrilling match up in the last game of the year pushed them into the eighth seed, overcoming Randolph-Macon in five on the road.
Head coach Casey Steinbrecher returns for his second year manning the helm for the Royals. He brings back some key components of last year's squad, which includes four seniors and a junior, along with six freshmen and five sophomores. Paris Hutchinson, who tallied 156 kills, was the offensive leader. Meanwhile, Hannah Johnson (121 digs) and Heather Phelps (28 total blocks), led the way on defense for the Royals.
Salem All-Time Series vs. Eastern Mennonite
Eastern Mennonite leads series 8-2
| Date | Season | Opponent | Result | Score | Set Scores |
| S26 | 2009 | vs. Eastern Mennonite $ | L | 1-3 | 23-25, 19-25, 25-20, 20-25 |
| S3 | 2010 | at Eastern Mennonite ! | L | 0-3 | 20-25,22-25,25-27 |
| S2 | 2011 | at Eastern Mennonite ! | L | 0-3 | 20-25,22-25,25-27 |
| A31 | 2013 | at Eastern Mennonite ! | L | 1-3 | 25-17,19-25,19-25,16-25 |
| A30 | 2014 | at Eastern Mennonite ! | L | 1-3 | 24-26,25-20,14-25,14-25 |
| S4 | 2015 | at Eastern Mennonite ! | L | 0-3 | 12-25,21-25,23-25 |
| S2 | 2016 | at Eastern Mennonite ! | W | 3-1 | 18-25,25-22,25-17,25-19 |
| S1 | 2017 | at Eastern Mennonite ! | W | 3-0 | 25-19,25-22,25-21 |
| A31 | 2018 | at Eastern Mennonite ! | L | 1-3 | 23-25,26-28,25-14,16-25 |
| A31 | 2019 | vs. Eastern Mennonite ! | L | 1-3 | 25-19,14-25,23-25,18-25 |
Marymount (Va.): The Saints went 4-1 in a COVID-shortened campaign this past spring. They showcased their typical high-powered offense with a kills-per-set mark of 11.37. MU is set to carry some serious momentum into this season after winning its final three games to close out the 2020 slate.
MU is well positioned to earn its third conference title after the Saints stood alone on top of the Atlantic East Preseason Poll with 36 points. Cabrini University was slated to finish second with 29 points, while Neumann University slotted in third with 27 points. Marywood University rounded out the top four with 21 points.
On a roster that includes 20 players, Marymount has just one senior—Caylee Shelton. She is joined by eight juniors, four sophomores and seven freshman. The statistical leaders in the spring for the Saints were Elissa Munsterman (73 kills), Jasmine Roy (90 digs) and Mya Bowers (10 total blocks).
Salem All-Time Series vs. Marymount (Va.)
First Meeting between the two programs
