PHILADEPHIA, PA - Led by 20 kills and 13 digs from sophomore Sophie Freihofer, the Salem International women's volleyball team defeated Lincoln University (Pa.) 3-1 in four sets (25-22, 19-25, 25-14, 25-19) on Monday night (Nov. 7) at Manuel Rivero Hall.

Salem International (5-24) will host Bluefield State on Tuesday night (Nov. 8) beginning at 6 pm from the T. Edward Davis Gymnasium. It will be the final home-match of the 2016 campaign for the Tigers. SIU will have one final regular-season matchup on Tuesday (Nov 15) as the Tigers travel to Buckhannon, West Virginia to face West Virginia Wesleyan University at 7 pm.

The Tigers would be just shy of perfect in the first set against the Lions, racking-up 17 kills and committing just two errors as a team. Freihofer gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead in the set after picking-up back-to-back kills. SIU rattled-off four consecutive points to up its lead to 12-6 midway through the set.

Trailing 13-17, the Lions wouldn't be finished as they would string together five points to take an 18-17 lead. Freihofer's kill would give the Tigers an 25-22 victory to take the opening set victory.

Lincoln found a winning formula in the second set as it took a quick 10-1 lead over the Tigers. SIU used a small five-point rally to close the gap to 11-7. Another five point rally by the Tigers would pull them within them one-point (15-14) of the Lions, but that would be as close as SIU would get with the Lions recording the final three points to secure the second set 25-19.

The response from the Tigers after a sluggish second set would be huge, hitting .429 as a squad. SIU controlled the tempo of the set from start to finish, cruising to a 25-14 win. The Lions would have some trouble in the third set as they committed nine errors to go along with nine kills.

Lincoln, looking to extend the match to a decisive fifth-set would tally more kills (14) than the Tigers (11) but fall-short 19-25. SIU started the fourth set on a 6-0 run, thanks to a pair of service aces from junior Alessandra Marquez. The Tigers would take a strong hold on the set with a seven-point rally to increase their lead to 21-7. The Lions would have one final rally in them, stringing together six consecutive points to cut the SIU lead to 23-19. Freshman Ashly Holt and sophomore Cassidy Pluta would team-up for a match-ending block, giving the Tigers a 25-19 victory in the set.

Holt and her sister, freshman Kristn Holt each tallied nine kills in the match for SIU. Marquez would finish the night with four service aces, while teammate and sophomore Tallora Soriano led the Tigers with 38 assists. Pluta recorded 12 digs for SIU and freshman Justine Ramirez tallied 11.

Mariah Russell led the Lions with 17 kills and six digs, while Tierra Russaw dug up 22 balls for Lincoln. Atarah Lindsey recorded a double-double for the Lions with 12 kills and 15 digs. Shanna King guided the Lions offense with 24 assists.