WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Salem College women's volleyball closed out its Halloween doubleheader at Bryant Hall with a five-set loss to Southern Virginia University before bouncing back with a three-set sweep over William Peace University on Saturday. With the split, Salem moved to 20-6, 11-4 in USA South Conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Match One | Southern Virginia 3, Salem 2
SET 1 | Salem 25, Southern Virginia 22
Salem opened the match with five consecutive points before Southern Virginia battled back to take a 14-10 lead. Salem continued to fight, eventually tying the set at 21 before closing with four of the final five points.
Leah Rymer led Salem with five kills in the opening frame as the team recorded 16 kills.
SET 2 | Salem 25, Southern Virginia 13
Salem carried its momentum into the second set, establishing an early advantage and maintaining control throughout the frame. The team delivered one of its strongest offensive performances of the afternoon, recording 13 kills with just two attacking errors for a .324 hitting percentage. Salem's 25-13 victory gave the team a commanding 2-0 match lead.
SET 3 | Southern Virginia 25, Salem 18
Southern Virginia responded in the third set, using an improved offensive performance to regain momentum. Salem recorded 10 kills but committed nine attacking errors, finishing with a .024 hitting percentage. Southern Virginia took the set 25-18 to extend the match.
SET 4 | Southern Virginia 25, Salem 23
The fourth set featured another competitive battle as Salem looked to secure the match. Salem registered 15 kills and a .190 hitting percentage, but Southern Virginia capitalized on key opportunities late in the frame to earn a narrow 25-23 victory and force a deciding fifth set.
SET 5 | Southern Virginia 15, Salem 13
The final set remained closely contested, with five ties and two lead changes. Salem recorded eight kills in the deciding frame, but Southern Virginia pulled ahead late to claim a 15-13 victory and complete the five-set comeback.
Match Two | Salem 3, William Peace 0
SET 1 | Salem 25, William Peace 23
William Peace opened the match with a 4-0 lead and extended its advantage to 11-8 before Salem responded with seven consecutive points, highlighted by back-to-back service aces from
Leah Rymer, to take a 15-11 lead.
Salem maintained its advantage and reached set point at 24-20. William Peace scored three straight points to close the gap, but an attacking error secured Salem's 25-23 victory.
SET 2 | Salem 25, William Peace 19
Salem established control early in the second set, building an 11-5 advantage before extending its lead to 17-6.
William Peace narrowed the deficit late in the frame, but
Tenley McDonald delivered the final kill to secure the 25-19 victory. Salem recorded 16 kills and a .417 hitting percentage in the set.
SET 3 | Salem 25, William Peace 20
Salem carried its momentum into the third set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead before William Peace cut the advantage to 10-9.
Salem responded with a five-point run to extend its lead to 17-10. William Peace continued to battle, pulling within three points late in the set, but Salem held on to complete the sweep with a 25-20 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Leah Rymer led Salem's offensive effort with 24 kills, 44 assists, 23 digs and five service aces across both matches, highlighted by a triple-double against Southern Virginia.
- Tenley McDonald contributed 18 combined kills, including 11 against Southern Virginia.
- Ariana Noplos recorded 14 kills, five service aces and eight total blocks across the doubleheader.
- Sadie Lippard anchored Salem's defense with 41 digs, including 26 against Southern Virginia and 15 against William Peace.
- Olivia Torres contributed 28 digs, while Polly Lennie added 20 digs across both matches.
- Jolina Bun recorded 37 assists.
