WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Salem College women's volleyball (16-5, 7-3 USA South) battled back to secure a 3-2 victory over Greensboro College (17-4, 7-3 USA South) Wednesday evening at the Bryant Hall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (GREENSBORO 25, SALEM 15)
Salem opened the match with a kill from Tenley McDonald before Greensboro responded to take an early 5-2 lead. Kills from Sadie Rich and Ellie Scherer kept Salem within striking distance, but Greensboro extended its advantage to 17-9. Salem attempted to close the gap with consecutive points late in the set before Greensboro secured the opening frame, 25-15.
SET 2 (SALEM 25, GREENSBORO 23)
The second set featured 10 ties and three lead changes as both teams battled for control. Salem used a 4-0 run, highlighted by a service ace from Sadie Lippard, to take an 8-5 advantage. The home team later stretched its lead to 16-10 following a kill from Tessa Vance before Greensboro rallied to even the score at 18. With the teams tied at 23, Scherer delivered a kill to give Salem a set point. A Greensboro attack error secured the 25-23 victory, evening the match at one set apiece.
SET 3 (GREENSBORO 25, SALEM 17)
Greensboro established an early advantage in the third set, jumping ahead 10-4 before extending its lead to 18-8. Salem responded with kills from Rich, Vance and Scherer, while McDonald recorded three consecutive kills late in the frame. Despite the late push, Greensboro claimed the third set, 25-17, to regain a 2-1 match advantage.
SET 4 (SALEM 25, GREENSBORO 22)
Salem battled through a tightly contested fourth set. Consecutive kills from Leah Rymer helped Salem take a 9-8 lead before Salem extended its advantage to 14-10, highlighted by another Lippard service ace. Greensboro fought back to tie the score at 16, but Salem answered with a 6-2 stretch to build a 22-18 advantage. Greensboro narrowed the deficit to 23-22 before Salem secured the final two points, capped by a Rymer kill, to force a decisive fifth set.
SET 5 (SALEM 15, GREENSBORO 9)
Salem carried its momentum into the final set, opening with four unanswered points behind kills from Taylor Cook and Scherer and a block from Scherer and Ariana Noplos. Greensboro cut the deficit to 6-5, but Salem responded with a 5-0 run, highlighted by consecutive Rymer kills, to extend its lead to 11-5. Vance added a kill down the stretch before Rich delivered the match-winning kill to secure the 15-9 victory and complete the five-set comeback.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Sadie Rich led Salem with 13 kills and nine digs.
- Ellie Scherer contributed 12 kills and three block assists.
- Leah Rymer recorded 11 kills, 21 assists and 23 digs.
- Sadie Lippard led all players with 36 digs and added two service aces.
- Tessa Vance finished with eight kills on 16 attempts, recording a .500 hitting percentage and two block assists.
- Jolina Bun added 15 assists, 15 digs and two service aces.
- Taylor Cook contributed three kills on seven attempts, hitting .429.
