>Site: 
Staunton, Va. | Physical Activities Center

>Results: 
Salem , Mary Baldwin (25-22, 25-13, 25-14)

>Records: 
Salem (11-3, 4-1 USA South)
Mary Baldwin (2-9, 0-4 USA South)

>Next Matches
Salem vs. William Peace | October 5 | 12 p.m. | Varsity Gym
Salem vs. Warren Wilson | October 5 | 4 p.m. | Varsity Gym

STAUNTON, Va. – The Salem volleyball team extended its winning streak to five straight as the Spirits posted their fifth 3-0 sweep of the season with a 25-22, 25-13, 25-14 victory at Mary Baldwin in Saturday afternoon USA South Conference volleyball action. 

Individually, first year Maia Johnson led the way for the offense with 12 kills and a .500 attack percentage, committing just one error on the afternoon. She was one of four Spirits with at least five kills, including Aspen Bradley (eight), Anna Rymer (seven) and Jacie Jarvis (five). Collectively, Salem finished with 41 kills and a .330 attack percentage, as Leah Rymer handed out 19 assists and Grace Royer dished out 14. 

McKenzie Tullock piloted the Salem defense with 12 digs, while Anna Rymer came through with 11. Leah Rymer was also active with 10, completing her seventh double-double of the campaign. The Spirits were also active on the front row with seven solo blocks, including four from Johnson. 

FIRST SET: The two teams battled throughout the course of the opening set, enduring eight ties before reaching a 17-17 deadlock. Mary Baldwin grabbed a two-point lead, but it was a slam by Bradley coupled with a service ace from Anna Rymer that again evened the match at 19, forcing a Fighting Squirrels' timeout. With the clash evened at 20, Salem emerged from a second MBU timeout to grab a three-point lead by virtue of a Johnson kill and block, along with a Tullock service ace. Johnson accounted for the 24th-point with a kill and the Spirits secured the victory with an attack error. 

SECOND SET: The Spirits used the momentum established at the close of the first set in the early stages of the second frame, grabbing a 9-3 advantage behind five kills and an Anna Rymer service ace. First year Ellie Scherer provided Salem with a seven-point advantage, with a solo block of Sabrina Birts, as the Spirits reached double figures. An 8-3 rally by Mary Baldwin trimmed the Spirits' lead to 13-9, but it was a series of points from Anna Rymer along with three miscues that resulted in an 18-11 lead by Salem. First year's Johnson and Scherer combined for three kills, while Jolina Bun added a service ace, to provide Salem with the two-game advantage down the stretch. 

THIRD SET: With the opportunity to complete the fifth 3-0 victory of the season, Salem's offense came through with five kills in the first 10 points, including two from Bradley, establishing a 10-3 lead along the way. Abrielle Eckenroth and Johnson added slams of their own as the Spirit lead ballooned to 15-4, following a block from Johnson, forcing a Mary Baldwin breather. The timeout didn't derail the Spirits' offense, which used slams from Anna Rymer and Jarvis, along with a block by Bradley, to extend the lead to 20-9. The final six points came by virtue of kills for the Spirits, including two from Johnson and one from classmate Jelena Miljkovic.