BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (Oct. 27) – Despite a first-set victory, the Tigers were dealt a 3-1 loss (19-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-14) by Bluefield State in non-conference action Tuesday evening.
 
The loss drops the Salem International University volleyball team to 5-16 overall, while the Blues improve to 18-5 overall this season.
 
Sophomore Rachel Hess (Stuttgart, Germany/Patch) led the Tigers with 15 kills, her second-highest total of the season, while senior Brittney Nesbitt (Kansas City, Mo./Raytown South) and freshman Sophie Freihofer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) chipped in eight and seven kills, respectively. Nesbitt finished the night with a team-high 19 assists and five digs to go with her eight kills.
 
In addition to Nesbitt, freshman Julia Martinez (Devine, Texas/Devine) added her first-career double-double with season-highs of 16 assists and 10 digs to aid the team. Three other Tigers reached double-digit digs, led by sophomore Serena Estrada (Decatur, Texas/Decatur) with 13, while sophomore Jen Foreman (Delaware, Ohio/Rutherford B. Hayes) and junior Emerald Rosenbusch (Hutto, Texas/Hutto) each had 11 in the loss.
 
The Tigers came out with one their best sets of the season in a 25-19 first set win. Salem International finished with a .345 hitting percentage and 15 kills to take the early edge on the host Blues. Unfortunately, the Tigers were unable to replicate the success of the opening frame and dropped the next three sets.
 
Salem International returns to Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play this Friday when they head to rival Alderson Broaddus for a match at 6 p.m.