WILMINGTON, DE - Despite leading for a majority of the first set, Salem International dropped a 3-0 decision against Goldey-Beacom College in consecutive sets (25-21, 25-14, 25-14) on Friday night (Oct. 28) in women's collegiate volleyball action.

SIU will have the week off before returning to action next Saturday (Nov. 5) as the Tigers travel to Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The Tigers will compete in the Shepherd Tri-Match beginning at 3 pm against the host, Shepherd University. SIU will then do battle against Bowie State at 5:30 pm.

The Tigers were firing on all cylinders early in the opening set against the Lightning as SIU raced out to a 5-2 lead after back-to-back service aces from freshman Justine Ramirez. The Tigers would then go up 9-4 after a kill from sophomore Tallora Soriano with the assist going to Ramirez.

Goldey-Beacom would eventually battle back to knot the set 16-16 and trade points back-and-fourth with the Tigers. With the Tigers leading 21-20, Goldey-Beacom would rattle off six consecutive points to win the set 25-21.

The Lightning would slowly gain momentum as the match progressed, winning the second set and third set by 25-14 scores. SIU combined for just 11 kills as a team in the second and third sets after recording 10 kills in the first set.

Sophomore Sophie Freihofer finished with a team-high nine kills for the Tigers, while sophomore Cassidy Pluta recorded a match-high 15 digs.

Soriano led SIU with 11 assists, while Ramirez recorded seven assists. Junior Sarah Arceneaux dug up three balls for the Tigers.

Lindsay Przywara led Goldey-Beacom with a match-high 11 kills, while teammate Grace McCarthy totaled10 kills and a team-high seven digs. Olivia Florence directed the Lightning offense on the night by recording 29 assists. Makinsie Balderson delivered five service aces, while Przywara and Jax Babezki each recorded three blocks.