Site: Raleigh, N.C.
Score: Salem 3, William Peace 2 (25-16, 16-25, 13-25, 26-24, 15-13)
Records: Salem (13-5, 6-2 USA South) / William Peace (18-5, 8-1 USA South)
Up Next: Salem at Greensboro (Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m.)
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Salem volleyball team broke two trends on Tuesday evening in Raleigh, N.C. The Spirits halted a four-match straight set losing streak to William Peace and handed the Pacers more than a one-set loss this season. Both of those streaks came to an end as the Spirits claimed a five-set 25-16, 16-25, 13-25, 26-24, 15-13 victory over William Peace when the two collided at Hermann Athletic Center.
"I am very proud of this team," said head coach Barry Rymer. "We came ready to play in the first set. Then we got into a bad stretch over the next two sets. I was proud we came back in the fourth set and didn't quit. This team showed a lot of mental toughness in the fifth set to come back and win. It was a total team effort and I couldn't be more proud of everyone!"
The Spirits won their fourth straight match behind a complete team effort. Offensively, the duo of Aspen Bradley and Valeria Rosa Lopez provided the spark with 12 kills each. Bradley finished off her evening with a .308 attack percentage, committing just four miscues in 26 total attacks. Teammates Abrielle Eckenroth (nine kills), who posted a .308 attack percentage, Anna Rymer (eight kills) and Ella Brameus (eight kills) were also instrumental.
On defense, junior Macy Nelson was the leader for the back row with 22 digs. Nelson, who topped the 20-dig plateau for first time this season and second time in her career, was one of five Salem defenders with double-digit digs. Also topping the mark were Brameus, who finished with 19, Lopez (15), Ashlyn Wood (14) and Ashlee Peek (12).
The trio of Wood, Peek and Lopez notched double-doubles for the Spirits in the triumph. Wood led the team with 27 assists, while Peek tallied 14. Lopez, with her 10th double-double of the slate, finished with 15 digs and 12 kills. Bradley added three blocks (one solo), while Rymer came through with a solo block for Salem's front row.
The Spirits capped off the match with 58 kills, a .177 attack percentage and seven service aces. The biggest difference in the two teams was Salem's 94 digs, which tied for ninth-most in a five-set match in program history.
FIRST SET RECAP
The Spirits capped off the opening set by notching 14 kills and a .343 attack percentage en route to just the seventh set loss that the Pacers endured this season. After six ties in the first 22 points, resulting in an 11-11 deadlock, Bradley drove home the first of four Salem kills in a 10-point stretch, resulting in a 17-15 advantage. The Spirits' lead grew to four, 21-17, following a block by Bradley and Brooklyn Snow. Two kills by Eckenroth along with the set-clinching kill from Lopez, gave Salem the opening set.
SECOND SET RECAP
William Peace responded to the challenge with a 16-kill, .424 attack percentage in second set, claiming the nine-point victory. In similar fashion to the opening set, seven ties resulted in a 13-all deadlock, which this time went the way of the Pacers, who took advantage of a Salem miscue to grab the lead. William Peace received four kills from Kelsey Bierbauer to grab a 21-14 lead. Snow stopped the Pacer offense briefly with a kill of her own, but William Peace would use three kills and a service ace to claim the win.
THIRD SET RECAP
The Pacers offensive rhythm continued into the third set, where they capitalized on 11 kills and a .028 Salem hitting percentage to earn the 25-13 victory. Jumping out to a 10-3 lead, behind a series of slams from Grace Anderson, the Pacers establish themselves early. Lopez answered with two service aces of her own, keeping Salem within striking distance, but Hannah Collier's service game made the difference as the Pacers moved in front 21-11. Despite kills from Bradley and Lopez, William Peace grabbed the advantage in the match with the 2-1.
FOURTH SET RECAP
An aggressive approach in serve, coupled with 15 kills and a .213 attack percentage, helped Salem even the match at two sets apiece in the fourth. After five ties in the first 24 points, resulting in a 12-12 deadlock, Brameus gave Salem an advantage. Brameus delivered two service aces while Bradley drove home two kills to give the Spirits a 16-12 lead midway through the set. Rymer added two kills of her own before Brameus put Salem two points from the win with a timely kill. William Peace answered with a 4-0 run, tying the set at 23, but Bradley and Lopez teamed up for kills as Salem forced a fifth set.
FIFTH SET RECAP
Facing their first fifth-set since a clash with Greensboro on October 30, 2021, William Peace grabbed an 8-3 lead. Rymer started the Salem rally with a block and following kills from Rymer and Brameus, the Spirits owned a 9-8 lead. Brameus and Bradley delivered clutch kills for Salem, bringing the set to a 12-12 deadlock. After a kill by Shelby Cooper put William Peace two points from victory, Bradley and Lopez slammed home points past the Pacer defense to turn the tables. With Nelson in serve a bad set by Mackenzie Russell provided the match point for Salem.
SALEM NOTES
-Salem claimed its fifth win in the all-time series with William Peace. It marks the third win in Raleigh, N.C. for the Spirits and first in the series since defeating the Pacers 3-0 on September 28, 2019.
-It is the second time in program history that Salem has claimed a five-set win at William Peace. The last came on October 17, 2012.
-Macy Nelson, who topped the 20-dig plateau for first time this season and second time in her career, was one of five Salem defenders with double-digit digs. Her career high is 26 digs, which came against Methodist on October 27, 2021.
-Salem's 94 digs in the match tied for ninth-most in a five-set match in program history.
-Marks the sixth time in program history that Salem has won at least six conference matches in a single season.