Site: Lynchburg, Va.

Score: Salem 3, Randolph 0 (25-9, 25-12, 25-22)

Records: Salem (2-0) / Randolph (2-2)

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

LYNCHBURG, Va.— Aspen Bradley drove home a match-high 10 kills while Ella Brameus and Abrielle Eckenroth added seven apiece, leading the Salem volleyball team to a three-set (25-9, 25-12, 25-22) victory over Randolph on Wednesday evening in Lynchburg, Va. The victory improves Salem to 2-0 on the season and marks the first time since the 2009 season that the program opened with consecutive wins.

Bradley finished off the match with a .316 attack percentage, committing just four miscues in 19 attempts en route to her double-digit kill performance. Eckenroth was effective throughout the match with a .385 attack percentage, driving home seven kills in 13 attempts. The same was true of Brameus, who posted a .375 attack percentage with seven kills in 16 attempts. Ashlyn Wood guided the offense with 12 assists while Ashlee Peek dished out 11.

Brameus was also active defensively with a team-high 14 digs, three more than Valeria Rosa Lopez, who came through with 11 digs and six kills. Macy Nelson reached double figure digs for the second time in as many matches, closing with 10. Both Eckenroth and Nikita Sizemore had a solo block each.

While the Salem offensive attack was clicking on all cylinders, posting a .264 attack percentage, Randolph struggled with a .020 attack percentage. The Wildcats posted just 22 kills and committed 20 errors along the way. Only Medlody Washington (10 assists) and Jayda Domenech (10 digs) had double-digit outings.

FIRST SET RECAP
The Spirits capped off the opening frame with 14 kills and a .367 attack percentage, resulting in a 16-point win. After a kill by Eckenroth, which pushed the lead to 10-3, Randolph briefly trimmed the margin to five with a series of set errors and a slam from Brooklyn Finnerty. Bradley responded with three kills of her own, helping Salem to forge in front 16-7. Brameus came through with two kills and Anna Rymer added one of her own, to help Salem grab the 1-0 lead.

SECOND SET RECAP
Salem stormed out to a 4-0 lead with the service game of Wood, but the Wildcats scored six of the next 10 points to move within two, 8-6. Bradley delivered two kills to put Salem into double figures allowing the Spirits to assume the 15-10 lead. With Rymer in serve, Salem extended the lead to 19-11. Peek took over in the waning stages, capitalizing on a service ace and kills from the combination of Lopez and Sizemore to complete the win.

THIRD SET RECAP
The Spirits offense stayed hot entering the third frame, streaking out to an 8-2 advantage behind back-to-back service aces from Rymer. The front row of Lopez and Bradley delivered slams to stretch that margin to 12-5, but a rally from Randolph trimmed the Spirits' lead to two, 15-13. Eckenroth and Lopez delivered kills that kept Salem in front 20-17. Brameus proved to be the deciding factor in the third, coming through with three kills in the final five points as Salem earned the sweep.

SALEM NOTES

• The Spirits are 3-1 all-time in their series with Randolph and are 2-0 all-time in Lynchburg, Va. The other victory at Randolph came on September 7, 2016, when Salem emerged with a 30-28, 26-24, 25-19 win.
• In 2009, when Salem began 2-0 under then head coach Amanda Ziemba, the Spirits defeated Johnson C. Smith (3-2) and Agnes Scott in consecutive matches.
• Salem has never opened the season with three straight wins in program history.