Box Score STAUNTON, Va. – Salem College women's volleyball (23-6, 14-4 USA South) closed out its regular season with a dominant 3-0 sweep over Mary Baldwin University(1-29, 0-18 USA South) on Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activity Center.
Ellie Scherer and
Sadie Rich led Salem's offensive attack with nine kills apiece. Scherer posted a match-high .615 hitting percentage, while Rich finished with a .474 hitting percentage.
Ariana Noplos added eight kills, and
Leah Rymer contributed six kills, 16 assists and seven digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Salem 25, Mary Baldwin 12
Salem established control early in the opening set, jumping out to a 7-1 advantage behind kills from Rich, Scherer and Noplos.
The team continued to build momentum, extending its lead to 14-3 before Mary Baldwin attempted to respond. Salem maintained its offensive rhythm, stretching the advantage to 20-9.
A kill from Rich brought Salem to set point before Rymer secured the 25-12 victory with her third kill of the frame.
SET 2 | Salem 25, Mary Baldwin 16
The second set featured a more competitive start, with both teams exchanging points and the lead changing hands several times.
After falling behind 10-9, Salem responded with four consecutive points, highlighted by a service ace from Rymer and kills from
Tenley McDonald and Noplos, to establish a 13-10 advantage.
Mary Baldwin narrowed the deficit to 16-14, but Salem answered with a kill from Rich to regain momentum.
Leading 18-15, Salem used a four-point scoring run to extend its advantage to 22-15. McDonald contributed a pair of kills during the stretch. Salem closed out the set 25-16.
SET 3 | Salem 25, Mary Baldwin 15
Salem carried its momentum into the final frame, taking an early 5-2 lead before extending the advantage to 8-3.
The team maintained control throughout the set, building an 18-9 lead behind strong serving from
Jolina Bun and contributions from Scherer, Noplos and Rymer.
Mariah Miller provided an offensive spark late in the set, recording three kills. With Salem leading 21-15, Rich added two kills during a four-point run that sealed the 25-15 victory and completed the sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Ellie Scherer registered nine kills, .615 hitting percentage and two solo blocks.
- Sadie Rich registered nine kills and a .474 hitting percentage.
- Ariana Noplos recorded eight kills, .375 hitting percentage, one service ace and one solo block.
- Leah Rymer tallied six kills, 16 assists, seven digs and one service ace.
- Sadie Lippard led the defense with a match-high 17 digs.
- Jolina Bun guided the offense with 13 assists, four digs and two service aces.
- Salem finished with a .327 hitting percentage compared to Mary Baldwin's .035. Salem also held a 40-26 advantage in kills and recorded five service aces and four total team blocks.
UP NEXT
Salem enters the USA South Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will host No. 6 Methodist University in the opening round on Tuesday, November 10, at 6 p.m. inside Bryant Hall in Winston-Salem, N.C.
