WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Pfeiffer's offensive trio of Madison Honeycutt, Morgan Shrader and Reagan Wyatt combined for 27 of the team's 42 kills, which helped the Falcons earn a hard-fought three-set victory over Salem (25-19, 26-24, 25-18) in USA South Conference volleyball action at Varsity Gym on Thursday evening.
Honeycutt led all Pfeiffer (16-6, 6-4 USA South) hitters with 10 kills while Shrader added nine and Wyatt delivered eight. The offense was sparked by Kylee Mayberry, who closed with a match-high 23 assists. Defensively, the Falcons received 16 digs from Emma Gray Beacham and 13 from Shrader. The front row defense was highlighted by Kira Suttles, who came through with two assisted block and one solo.
Valeria Rosa Lopez capped off her eighth double-double of the slate with 17 digs and 11 kills for the Spirits, who remain winless in 13 matches and seven league contests. Brooklyn Snow also had a solid performance for the Spirits (10 kills / 11 digs), her fourth double-double of the slate, as Brianna Moore handed out 19 assists and Dania Shoaf dished out 10 assists.
Lopez led the defense with 17 digs and Macy Nelson added 12 for Salem. The front row of Brianna Cherry (four assisted blocks), Laken Edwards (three) and Taylor Alleyne (two) also made their presence felt.
Pfeiffer grabbed a 9-4 lead in the opening set, following a block by Mattie Burris and eventually stretched the margin to nine, 14-5, with a service ace by Honeycutt at the midway point. However, Salem responded with kills by Cherry and Lopez, slicing the margin to 22-17. The Spirits narrowed the lead to four on two occasions in the latter stages, but Pfeiffer completed the victory 25-19.
After four ties in the first 10 points of the second set, including a five-all deadlock, Pfeiffer assumed a 10-7 lead following an unforced error by the Spirits. Salem put together a rally, highlighted by kills from Cherry and Edwards, before a slam by Snow knotted the set at 15-15. The two teams would endure seven ties in the next 17 points, reaching a 24-all tie, with a kill from Lopez. Pfeiffer capitalized on kills from Honeycutt and Anya Parker down the stretch to assume the two-set advantage.
Seizing the opportunity to close out the match in three sets, Pfeiffer streaked out to a 9-3 lead in the third set behind three kills from Honeycutt and two from Wyatt. Snow came through with three kills and the tandem of Edwards and Cherry combined for a block, as Salem reached double figures, 17-10. Facing a 20-13 deficit, Salem answered with a kill by Alleyne and used unforced errors to score four of the next seven points. However, strikes by Wyatt and Honeycutt closed out the win for the Falcons.
Salem completes the week with a pair of matches at Greensboro College where they face N.C. Wesleyan at 2:30 p.m. and the host Pride at 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 16th.
