MONTGOMERY, W.Va. (Sept. 1) – The Tigers opened the 2016 season with a 3-0 loss (25-17, 25-17, 25-16) to West Virginia University Institute of Technology Thursday evening.
 
The Salem International University volleyball team (0-1) was led offensively by freshman Kristn Holt (Haslet, Texas/Northwest) with five kills in her collegiate debut, while junior Rachel Hess (Stuttgart, Germany/Patch) and sophomore Sophie Freihofer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak  Hills) each had four kills.
 
Freshman Justine Ramirez (Lubbock, Texas/Coronado) guided the offense with a team-high eight assists, while sophomore Cassidy Pluta (Parma, Mich./Lumen Christi Catholic) added 11 digs on defense.
 
WVU Tech was led on offense by Bailey Lotozo, who finished with a game-high 16 kills.
 
The Tigers are back on the court this Saturday, September 3 when they head to Worcester, Massachusetts for matches against Assumption (hosting team) and Felician. The match with Assumption starts at 10 a.m.