Site: Roanoke, Va.

Score: Salem 3, N.C. Wesleyan 0 (25-16, 25-12.25-18)
Score: Salem 3, Randolph 0 (25-22, 20-25, 25-22, 24-26, 6-15)

Records: Salem (3-1) / N.C. Wesleyan (2-2) / Roanoke (1-3)

Up Next: N.C. Wesleyan / Roanoke, 2022 Maroon Classic, Salem, Va.

ROANOKE, Va.— The Salem volleyball team split the opening day of the 2022 Maroon Classic by earning a three-set victory over N.C. Wesleyan 25-16, 25-12 and 25-18 before dropping their first match of the season in the nightcap to tournament host Roanoke in five sets by scores of 25-22, 20-25, 25-22, 24-26 and 6-15.

The Spirits moved to 3-0 on the season with the win in the opening match, marking the first time in program history that Salem has begun 3-0.

SALEM vs. N.C. WESLEYAN RECAP

The tandem of Anna Rymer (13) and Aspen Bradley (11) led the way for Salem in kills, as the Spirits posted a .360 attack percentage. While that pair was the primary source of offense, the defense was led in digs by Ella Brameus (nine) and Valeria Rosa Lopez (eight).

FIRST SET RECAP
Salem posted a .346 attack percentage in the frame, driving home 10 kills along the way. Abrielle Eckenroth drove home a kill just over the midway point, stretching the Salem lead to 12-8. A series of Battling Bishop errors allowed Salem to stretch that margin to 20-12, following a kill by Lopez, before the tandem of Bradley and Rymer closed out the win with kills.

SECOND SET RECAP
The Spirits posted their best attack percentage of the match in the second set, closing with 15 kills and a .419 attack percentage. The Salem offense stayed hot into the second set, marching out to a 7-4 lead behind a kill from Bradley. After an error by N.C. Wesleyan, Salem stayed in stride and behind four kills from Rymer, established a 23-12 lead. The Spirits did not surrender a point down the stretch for the 13-point win.

THIRD SET RECAP
Wrapping up the match with 13 kills in the third set, the Spirits managed 13 kills and a .312 attack percentage in the frame. A strong opening by Salem, coupled with a Nikita Sizemore kill, made for a 14-10 Spirit lead. Bradley and Lopez teamed for back-to-back kills to establish a 22-17 lead, as Salem scored three of the final four points in the win.

SALEM vs. ROANOKE RECAP

Salem capitalized on three players in double figure kills, including a team-best 16 from Aspen Bradley, who posted a .517 attack percentage. Also reaching double figure kills were Anna Rymer (14) and Valeria Rosa Lopez (13), helping Salem close with 59 kills and a .231 attack percentage.

The defensive leaders consisted of Lopez, who tallied a match-high 19 digs, as well as Macy Nelson (14), Ella Brameus (12) and Ashlee Peek (10), who topped double-digit digs. The trio of Bradley, Rymer and Abrielle Eckenroth emerged with two assisted blocks, giving Salem eight on the evening.

FIRST SET RECAP
Salem fought through a tough offensive frame, managing just a .100 attack percentage to claim the opening set win. Brameus took over in serve with the Spirits leading 21-17, but the Maroons retaliated to pull within one with three unanswered points. A service ace from Rymer coupled with a slam from Bradley gave Salem the points it needed to post the win.

SECOND SET RECAP
The second set closed with the Spirits posting a .242 attack percentage, while Roanoke countered with 15 kills in the frame. A back-and-forth match throughout turned the way of Roanoke late, after the Maroons grabbed a 20-18 lead with a kill by Peyton Kirchner. The Maroons would hold on, limit Salem to just two points to draw even.

THIRD SET RECAP
In the third, Salem was clicking on all cylinders, scoring 20 of their 25 points via a kill, resulting in a .485 attack percentage. The Spirits overcame a .400 attack percentage by Roanoke along the way. After falling behind 18-14, Nikita Sizemore and Rymer converted kills to pull the match event at 20-20. Bradley stepped up with two kills down the stretch and Valeria Rosa Lopez added one to provide Salem with the three-point win.

FOURTH SET RECAP
The Maroons managed to even the match at 2-2, posting 17 kills in the process. With the two units separated by just one point late in the match, following a Macy Nelson service ace, they would endure a 24-all deadlock. A late miscue by Salem coupled with a kill from Georgie Ritter evened the match for Roanoke.

FIFTH SET RECAP
Salem's offensive attack was worn down by the Roanoke defense, which limited the Spirits to a .071 attack percentage. Meanwhile, Roanoke was responsible for 10 kills and a .333 attack percentage. The Maroons capitalized on the service game of Kennedy Clemmer, who pushed the lead to 11-1, as they cruised to the 15-6 victory and handed Salem its first setback of the slate.

SALEM NOTES

• Salem owned a 3-0 record to open the season for the first time in program history.
• First year standout Aspen Bradley has recorded double figure kills in each of her first four matches.
• This weekend's match with Hollins will mark the 12th time that the two programs have met in volleyball. Hollins is 6-5 all-time against Salem, however the Spirits have won the last four matches in the series.
• The Spirits are 3-1 all-time in their series with Randolph and are 2-0 all-time in Lynchburg, Va.