> Site: 
Varsity Gym | Winston-Salem, N.C.

>Results: 
Salem 3, Brevard 0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-14)

>Records: 
Salem (29-5)
Brevard (15-14)

>Next Match
Salem vs. William Peace | Nov. 14 | 7:15 p.m. | Varsity Gym

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Maia Johnson and Anna Rymer drove home 12 kills apiece, while Leah Rymer added 39 assists and 13 digs, as the Salem volleyball team extended its record to 19 straight wins at Varsity Gym with a 25-14, 25-18, 25-14 victory over Brevard in the opening round of the USA South Conference Tournament on Tuesday evening. 

Salem's triumph, coupled with William Peace's victory over Methodist on Tuesday evening, results in the Pacers making their second trip to Winston-Salem this season on Thursday night in the Semifinals. 

On a night when Salem received its USA South Conference Regular Season Championship trophy from Commissioner Tom Hart, the Spirits had five players with at least six kills. Both Ellie Scherer and Abrielle Eckenroth, who tallied nine apiece, helping the Spirits post a .374 attack percentage. Along with her match-high 39 assists, Leah Rymer also contributed two service aces. 

The Salem defensive was also active with three solo blocks, including two from Johnson, and two assisted blocks. Meanwhile, Leah Rymer transitioned herself into the back row to come up with a team-best 13 digs. Jolina Bun and McKenzie Tullock added seven digs apiece, while Makailey Albright and Olivia Torres contributed six. 

FIRST SET: Three ties in the first 10 points brought the match to a five-all deadlock, but the Spirits broke through with 10 unanswered points with Anna Rymer in serve. The rally began with a Scherer slam and after two off the hand of Eckenroth, along with a Rymer ace, Salem would eventually stretch its lead to 15-5. Johnson single handedly delivered four kills for the Spirits, who assumed the 21-10 lead, with Torres manning the service game. Brevard sliced the lead to eight, 21-13, but it was kills down the stretch from Aspen Bradley and Johnson that completed the 11-point victory. 

SECOND SET: Anna Rymer opened the set with two kills for Salem, allowing Bun to take over in serve, where the sophomore capitalized on two slams from Eckenroth and Rymer as the Spirits assumed the 8-1 lead. Four kills from Salem, including one each from Johnson and Scherer, resulted in a 16-6 advantage. However, the Tornados mounted a comeback, using a pair of service aces from Bailey Lance to pull to within four, 17-13. Scherer penetrated the Brevard defense with two kills, getting the Salem offense back on track, as the Spirits posted the seven-point win. 

THIRD SET: Anna Rymer delivered two of her five kills in the set in the first three points as Salem assumed the 6-1 lead early in the set. Bun again delivered in serve, providing Salem with a 10-3 lead on a slam from Anna Rymer. Scherer and Johnson combined for three kills in a four-point stretch, providing Salem with an 18-7 lead, before Bradley and Eckenroth answered with a series of slams that put the Spirits at 20. Two kills down the stretch by Scherer, including the match point, sent Salem into the Semifinal Round.