Salem Volleyball opened their season today at the Great Lakes Crossover in Sandusky, OH. They played in two contests, the first against Ohio Wesleyan, followed by Alleghany, finishing with 2-3 and 3-2 results respectively. 

The Spirits opened the day with a tight first set against Ohio Wesleyan, securing the point with a 25-23 result. After struggles in the attack category, the second set went the way of the Bishops 19-25. Salem was able to turn up the heat in the second set, securing a definitive score of 25-26. 

The final two sets were tight, both decided with small margins. Ohio Wesleyan ultimately prevailed, finishing off the game with 22-25 and 13-15 scores. 

With little time to rest, the Spirits were back on the court to take on another tough opponent, Alleghany. The Gators started out hot, securing the first set 19-25, but the Spirits began to push back in the second, going the distance with a 24-26 score. 

The third set is where the Spirits hit their stride, securing one of their highest attack percentages of the day on their way to a 25-20 win. Set four brought 15 kills and another point in the win column, with the Spirits securing a 25-23 result. 

Heading into the deciding set, Salem was ready to play. Tenacity met poise, with the Spirits ending set five with 0 errors and were rewarded with a 15-11 result. 

A number of Salem athletes ended the day with big numbers in the stat column. Madison Bozarth led the team in digs with 36. Aspen Bradley led in two categories, finishing with 8 blocks and 30 kills. Finally, Leah Rymer secured a staggering 87 assists in their two contests. 

The Spirits will next be in action tomorrow, where they continue in the Great Lakes classic taking on Heidelberg and SUNY Brockport.