WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem volleyball team begins a seven-match stretch of USA South Conference opponents this weekend when it heads to Rocky Mount, N.C., for a series of matches with N.C. Wesleyan and Greensboro on Saturday afternoon.
This weekend marks the first time since September 4th that the Spirits will play two matches on the same day when they competed against Eastern Mennonite and Marymount (Va.). Salem opens Saturday action against N.C. Wesleyan at noon and follows that by clashing with Greensboro at 2 p.m.
STATISTICAL LEADERS FOR THE SPIRITS: The Spirits recently completed their first USA South Conference match of the season on Tuesday at Pfeiffer and by virtue of a 19-kill performance, Valeria Rosa Lopez became the first Salem hitter this season to top the 100-kill plateau. Lopez, who led all hitters in kills and digs (20), posted her fifth double-double of the slate.
Another key offensive cog for Salem (0-7, 0-1 USA South) is Brooklyn Snow, who has 52 kills to along with 61 digs and 10 total blocks (nine assisted blocks). Taylor Alleyne has made an immediate impact on the Spirits' offense with 42 kills, while first year classmate Brianna Moore leads the unit with 150 assists (5.56 assists/set).
Lopez has also been active on defense with a team-best 138 digs (5.11 digs/set), while teammate Laken Edwards has converted a team-high 14 blocks (12 assisted blocks). Also instrumental on defense is Macy Nelson, who has 81 digs, second-most on the unit.
HEAD COACH BARRY RYMER'S THOUGHTS ON THE WEEKEND: "I am excited for the opportunity to play two very good teams. We are continuing to work hard and try to improve each day. I am excited to see how they respond to the challenge this weekend."
ANALYZING GREENSBORO: Greensboro (8-5, 0-1) is looking to pick up its third win in four matches and rebound from a 3-0 setback to Southern Virginia on Wednesday evening. The Pride collected wins over Brevard and Covenant prior to the setback to Southern Virginia.
Hailey Stout is one of three Greensboro hitters with at least 80 kills on the slate, leading the way with 102. Teammates Carly Uhlir (88) and Sarah Oakes (81) rank second and third, respectively, on the unit in kills. McKenzie Norris has handed out a team-best 358 assists, resulting in 14.59 kills/set for The Pride.
The back row tandem of Lauren Kunke (185) and Uhlir (123) are tops in digs for Greensboro, while the front row is led in blocks by Natalie Rosinski (25), Oakes (24) and Katrina O'Neill (14).
Greensboro holds a 16-7 edge in the all-time series between the two programs, earning eight wins at Varsity Gym and two victories at a neutral site since the two teams first clashed in 2008.
All-Time Series (vs. Greensboro)
(Greensboro leads 16-7)
| Date | Season | Opponent | Result | Score | Set Scores |
| A30 | 2008 | vs. Greensboro # | L | 0-3 | 16-25,13-25,20-25 |
| S11 | 2009 | vs. Greensboro + | L | 0-3 | 19-25,17-25,14-25 |
| S12 | 2009 | at Greensboro | L | 1-3 | 25-23,22-25,13-25,16-25 |
| O6 | 2010 | vs. Greensboro | L | 0-3 | 22-25,20-25,14-25 |
| S2 | 2010 | at Greensboro | L | 0-3 | 11-25,13-25,18-25 |
| S6 | 2011 | at Greensboro | L | 0-3 | 21-25, 23-25, 21-25 |
| O18 | 2011 | vs. Greensboro | L | 0-3 | 21-25,20-25,19-25 |
| S4 | 2012 | vs. Greensboro | L | 0-3 | 11-25,21-25,15-25 |
| O30 | 2012 | at Greensboro | L | 0-3 | 12-25,19-25,14-25 |
| S4 | 2013 | at Greensboro | L | 0-3 | 22-25,18-25,22-25 |
| S14 | 2013 | vs. Greensboro | L | 2-3 | 25-23,21-25,25-16,22-25,16-18 |
| S3 | 2014 | at Greensboro | L | 2-3 | 25-19,20-25,20-25,25-20,12-15 |
| S25 | 2014 | vs. Greensboro | L | 1-3 | 25-23,24-26,21-25,12-25 |
| S9 | 2015 | vs. Greensboro | W | 3-2 | 25-20,13-25,27-25,17-25,15-13 |
| S20 | 2016 | at Greensboro | L | 2-3 | 30-28,16-25,25-16,12-25,15-17 |
| S24 | 2016 | vs. Greensboro * | L | 1-3 | 26-28,25-23,18-25,22-25 |
| O7 | 2017 | at Greensboro ^* | W | 3-0 | 25-19,25-18,25-23 |
| O28 | 2017 | vs. Greensboro &* | W | 3-2 | 25-15,20-25,21-25,25-22,15-11 |
| S29 | 2018 | at Greensboro %* | W | 3-0 | 25-20,25-14,25-16 |
| O20 | 2018 | vs. Greensboro &* | W | 3-0 | 25-19,25-22,25-22 |
| O5 | 2019 | vs. Greensboro ^* | W | 3-0 | 28-26,25-22,25-21 |
| O26 | 2019 | at Greensboro >* | W | 3-1 | 25-21,14-25,25-20,25-22 |
| N5 | 2019 | vs. Greensboro @ | L | 2-3 | 25-20,25-15,16-25,21-25,11-15 |
ANALYZING N.C. WESLEYAN: The Battling Bishops (8-4, 0-1 USA South) head into the weekend winning five of their last seven matches, since earning a four-set victory over Ferrum at the Maroon Classic on September 10th. Four of those victories—which came against Hollins, Randolph, Johnson & Wales and Ferrum—came in three-set fashion.
N.C. Wesleyan is led on offense by the tandem of Lauren Weaver (116 kills) and Sydney Barnwell (113), while Sloan Martin has been the primary setter with 372 assists. Barnwell's 23 service aces are followed only closely by Michaela Seawell, who has 20 aces on the season.
On defense, the Bishops are highlighted by the play of Weaver (37 total blocks) and Barnwell (20) on the front row. The back row is anchored by Kira Kristjanson, who has 174 digs.
Salem owns a 6-5 lead in the all-time series with N.C. Wesleyan, rattling off six straight victories since September 22, 2017. The Spirits have earned four three-set wins in the last six matches and have two wins in Rocky Mount, N.C. since the 2008 campaign.
All-Time Series (vs. N.C. Wesleyan)
(Salem leads 6-5)
| Date | Season | Opponent | Result | Score | Set Scores |
| O1 | 2008 | at NC Wesleyan | L | 0-3 | 14-25,14-25,19-25 |
| S17 | 2009 | vs. N.C. Wesleyan | L | 0-3 | 18-25,14-25,14-25 |
| O25 | 2011 | at NC Wesleyan | L | 0-3 | 14-25,12-25,20-25 |
| S10 | 2013 | vs. N.C. Wesleyan | L | 0-3 | 21-25,22-25,22-25 |
| S30 | 2016 | at N.C. Wesleyan
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