WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After competing in six non-conference matches in the first three weeks of the 2021 volleyball season, Salem will make the short trip to Meisenheimer, N.C., to take on USA South Conference foe Pfeiffer on Tuesday, September 21st at 7 p.m.
The clash with the Falcons is the first of three USA South Conference matches for Salem this week, which also faces N.C. Wesleyan and Greensboro in Rocky Mount, N.C. on Saturday, September 25th.
Salem (0-6) remains in search of its first win under head coach Barry Rymer after a pair of solid showings against Ferrum (3-2) and Guilford (3-1) last week. Pfeiffer marks the last win for the Spirits, which came on October 30, 2019, by a 3-1 margin. That triumph provided Salem with its 10th USA South Conference victory of the season and allowed the Spirits to enter November with a three-match winning streak.
SPIRITS' STATISTICAL LEADERS: Through the first 22 sets of the season, sophomore outside hitter Valeria Rosa Lopez leads the team in kills (81), kills/set (3.68), digs (118), digs/set (5.36) and is tied alongside Taylor Alleyne and Brianna Moore for the team lead in service aces (four).
Laken Edwards leads the way for Salem in total blocks (11), taking advantage of nine assisted blocks and two solo blocks, both team-highs, along the way.
Brooklyn Snow has also put together a solid all-around performance on the floor with 55 digs, 34 kills and nine total blocks, which have her among the Top-3 in those respective categories on the unit.
Brianna Moore leads all Salem players in assists (110), averaging 5.00 assists per set.
CLASHING WITH THE FALCONS: Tuesday evening marks the seventh all-time meeting between Salem and Pfeiffer. The Spirits own a 4-2 lead in the series and are 1-1 when playing in Meisenheimer, N.C. The last time the two clashed at Pfeiffer, on October 24, 2018, Salem came away with a five-set victory by scores of 25-19,27-29,25-22,19-25,15-8.
ALL-TIME SERIES (vs. Pfeiffer)
(Salem leads series 4-2)
| Date | Season | Opponent | Result | Score | Set Scores |
| O5 | 2017 | vs. Pfeiffer | W | 3-0 | 25-16,25-14,25-18 |
| O25 | 2017 | at Pfeiffer | L | 1-3 | 18-25,25-19,16-25,21-25 |
| O3 | 2018 | vs. Pfeiffer * | W | 3-0 | 25-17,25-23,25-21 |
| O24 | 2018 | at Pfeiffer * | W | 3-2 | 25-19,27-29,25-22,19-25,15-8 |
| O8 | 2019 | vs. Pfeiffer * | L | 0-3 | 21-25,19-25,20-24 |
| O30 | 2019 | vs. Pfeiffer * | W | 3-1 | 25-19,24-26,25-14,25-18 |
PREVIEWING THE FALCON LINEUP: Pfeiffer enters Tuesday's match with an 8-2 overall mark, winners of four straight and a 5-2 record at Merner Gym. The Falcons four-match winning streak began on September 14th with a 3-1 win over Roanoke and followed with victories against Carolina (3-2), Brevard (3-1) and Maryville (3-2).
The trio of Morgan Shrader (84 kills), Madison Honeycutt (81) and Anya Parker (69) lead the way for the Falcons in kills. Honeycutt, who owns a .300 attack percentage, ranks behind Reagan Wyatt (.326) and Mattie Burris (.321) in that category. Meanwhile, teammate Kylee Mayberry leads the way in assists for Pfeiffer with 200 on the season.
Defensively, Pfeiffer has amassed 468 digs and 69 total blocks on the slate behind the pairing of Emma Gray Beacham (127 digs), Burris (31 total blocks) and Wyatt (30 total blocks).
