WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Three days after putting the wraps on the Route 42 Classic in Bridgewater, Va., the Salem volleyball team returns to action and hosts Ferrum in a non-conference clash at Varsity Gym on Tuesday, September 7th. The clash marks Salem's 2021 home opener.
The match not only brings together the former USA South Conference foes, Ferrum departed the league in 2018-19, but also pits new Salem head coach Barry Rymer against his daughter Anna. Anna is a freshman on the Ferrum volleyball roster.
The Panthers and Spirits have met four times since the 2008 season with Salem winning the last two clashes, which came in 2017. Salem won its first match over the Panthers in four sets on September 22 and followed that up with a three-set sweep just under a month later.
All-Time Series (vs. Ferrum)
| Date | Season | Opponent | Result | Score | Set Scores |
| O11 | 2008 | vs. Ferrum ^ | L | 0-3 | 24-26,18-25,21-25 |
| O1 | 2016 | vs. Ferrum $* | L | 1-3 | 25-21,22-25,17-25,17-25 |
| S22 | 2017 | vs. Ferrum $* | W | 3-1 | 23-25,25-14,25-21,25-12 |
| O14 | 2017 | vs. Ferrum ?* | W | 3-0 | 25-9,25-23,25-9 |
LOPEZ EARNS USA SOUTH RECOGNITION: Salem's Valeria Rosa Lopez, who wrapped up the Route 42 Classic hosted by Bridgewater last weekend with 63 digs (6.30 digs/set) and 33 kills (3.30 kills/set), earned USA South Defensive Player of the Week honors in a league announcement on Monday.
Lopez became the first Salem volleyball player to earn that accolade from the USA South since Maggie Hawks in 2018. Lopez did so by notching back-to-back double-double performances to open the season against Bridgewater and Eastern Mennonite.
Against the Eagles she tallied the second double-double of her collegiate career, finishing with 22 digs and 12 kills over four sets. The following afternoon, in a clash with Eastern Mennonite she delivered 17 digs and 13 kills, recording her third career double-double.
The Ponce, Puerto Rico, native concluded the three-match tournament by tying her newly established career-high in digs (23) in the final match against Marymount. She also drove home eight kills on the contest.
LEADING THE WAY FOR THE SPIRITS: Lopez is not only the top defensive player through the first week for the Spirits, with 63 digs, but she guides the offensive attack with 33 kills. She has committed just 21 errors in 113 attacks while notching a pair of service aces.
First year Taylor Alleyne ranks second on the team with 15 kills and teammate Nikita Sizemore is third with 10. Defensively, teammates Macy Nelson (35 digs) and Brooklyn Snow (25) have been active in the back row.
PANTHERS PREVIEW: Ferrum (0-3) opened the 2021 slate in Meisenheimer, N.C., suffering a pair of 3-0 setbacks to Averett and Carolina University before winning its first set of the season over Pfeiffer in a 3-1 loss on Saturday.
Taylor Joyner leads the Panthers in kills with 25, while Rymer is second with 12. Shelby Waltrip tops the lineup in digs (20) with Joyner one off that pace.
For more information on Salem volleyball check out www.salemspirits.com.