ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Salem's Valeria Rosa Lopez had a pair of double-double performances against N.C. Wesleyan (21 kills / 15 digs) and Greensboro (13 kills / 13 digs) when the teams clashed in USA South Conference action in Rocky Mount, N.C. on Saturday afternoon. Teammate Brooklyn Snow, who combined for 22 kills in the two matches, and Brianna Moore, who emerged with a pair of double-doubles, were also instrumental for the Spirits against both The Pride and Battling Bishops.
N.C. Wesleyan 3, Salem 1
Valeria Rosa Lopez capped off the opening match of the afternoon for the Spirits with 21 kills and 15 digs, marking her sixth double-double of the slate. She also added three service aces for the Spirits. Despite her performance, N.C. Wesleyan overcame an opening set loss to win in four games by scores of 21-25, 25-19, 25-14 and 28-26.
Joining Lopez among key front row contributors was Brooklyn Snow and Taylor Alleyne, who finished with 14 and eight kills, respectively. Snow was efficient throughout the match with a .314 attack percentage, limiting herself to three errors over the course of the match, while contributing 11 digs. The trio of Brianna Moore (13), Macy Nelson (17) and Jessica Cruz (12) reached double-digit digs for the Spirits in the match.
N.C. Wesleyan was led on offense by Sydney Barnwell, who closed with 14 kills, while Lauren Weaver added 12 kills. Kira Kristjanson came through with 14 digs and Micaela Seawell added 11 digs, highlighting the back row, while Barnwell contributed four solo blocks on the way.
Three kills from Lopez coupled with two off the hand of Snow allowed Salem to build a 10-4 lead in the early stages of the first set. The Battling Bishops rallied by scoring eight of the next 13 points, trimming the lead to 15-12, before Lopez came out of a Salem timeout with a pair of kills to push the Spirits' lead back to five, 20-15. Snow and Alleyne added kills down the stretch to help secure the first set.
After reaching a three-all deadlock in the second set, N.C. Wesleyan put together an 8-1 run to reach double figures. Four kills by Lopez, along with strikes by Snow and Alleyne, helped the Spirits trim the lead 19-13 in the midway point of the match. Laken Edwards and Snow added kills down the stretch, but it was not enough to deter the Bishops' win 25-19.
The Battling Bishops used the momentum established in the second set into the third, fighting through a 3-3 tie to move in front 11-6 on a series of kills by Weaver. Lopez, Snow and Brianna Cherry came through with kills out of a Salem timeout, but the Bishops stretched their lead to 20-10. Barnwell added kills down the stretch, resulting in a 25-14 for N.C. Wesleyan.
Trailing by one point early in the fourth set, Lopez forged the Spirits in front with three service aces and a kill to move in front 11-6. Salem remained in front by at least two points through the midway point of the match, leading 20-18, before a run by the Bishops assumed a 22-20 advantage on a slam by Weaver. Five kills over the next 10 points, including a slam by Barnwell, brought the match to a decisive 26-26 tie. A pair of unforced errors opened the door for N.C. Wesleyan to earn the two-point victory.
Greensboro 3, Salem 0
Valeria Rosa Lopez ended the second match of the afternoon for the Spirits with 13 kills and 13 digs, resulting in her seventh double-double of the season. Teammate Brooklyn Snow slammed home eight kills and contributed 10 digs for Salem as well. Brianna Cherry added two solo blocks for the Spirits' defense, while Brianna Moore dished out 26 assists and added 11 digs.
Natalie Rosinski highlighted the Greensboro offense with a team-high 10 kills, finishing with a .562 attack percentage after committing just one error in 16 attempts. Meanwhile, Carly Uhlir and Hailey Stout added seven kills each. Barrett Davis and Lauren Mantel led the back row with 15 and 12 digs, respectively, while Rosinski and Jade Vrobel contributed four solo blocks apiece for The Pride.
The two units reached a six-all deadlock in the opening set before a series of blocks by Vrobel established an 11-6 lead for Greensboro. Salem responded behind Macy Nelson's service game, trimming the margin to three, 12-9, before four unforced errors allowed The Pride to open an 18-9. Taylor Alleyne and Laken Edwards added kills down the stretch, but Greensboro emerged with the decisive 25-14 win.
After regrouping before the start of the second set, Salem forced four ties in the first 16 points, forcing an eight-all deadlock. The Pride responded with four kills and a service ace, moving in front 16-8, before a slam by Brianna Cherry resulted in the ninth Salem point of the second set. Snow and Lopez added three kills in the next four Salem points, but Greensboro emerged with a 25-15 win.
The tandem of Rosinski and Uhlir came were primarily responsible for Greensboro grabbing a 7-2 lead in the third frame. Lopez and Snow delivered kills for the Spirits to keep the margin within five, 12-7. However, Lopez slammed home a kill and Brianna Cherry came through with a series of blocks as the lead was trimmed to 15-12. A timely kill by Snow eventually Salem even at 18, the first of six ties in a 12-point stretch. Knotted at 24-all, following a kill from Cherry, Rosinski and teammate Abey Hancock came through with kills down the stretch to complete the sweep for Greensboro.
Salem returns to the court on Wednesday, Sept. 29th, when the Spirits host Meredith at Varsity Gym at 7 p.m.
