Box Score SALEM, W. Va. (Oct. 31, 2017) – Given a narrow margin of error after a slow start, the final set in the Salem University Tigers volleyball team's 3-1 loss to the West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) Bobcats came down to mere inches.

After the Tigers clawed back to 23-24 on a booming shot from Sophie Freihofer in the fourth and final set, the Bobcats' Leah Blend fired a shot down the line, just sneaking the ball inbounds, cutting a furious Salem rally short.

Thirty-one attack errors proved too costly for Salem University overcome, especially after a first set in which the Tigers committed nine errors with just nine kills, hitting .000 while West Virginia Wesleyan committed only three, hitting .269.
Rachel Hess struggled to get the ball down and inbounds early, but fought through it to lead the Tigers with 19 kills. Hess and Sophie Freihofer gained momentum as the match progressed, with Hess also contributing 14 digs and and Freihofer posting 10 kills and 11 digs for two Tigers' double-doubles. Each also contributed two service aces for a short-handed Salem team dealing with injuries.

After the team struggled to find its footing as different members faced expanded roles, the team settled in. Working as a setter for the injured Cassidy Pluta, Alaina Weltz led the Tigers with 24 assists and senior setter Feliciana Reed expanded her defensive responsibilities, finishing with 10 digs and 16 assists.

The Tigers simply surrendered too many long runs, giving up 12 aces, including five from the Bobcats' Alexis McCollum, to supplement a balanced frontline attack between Emily Doyle (13 kills) and Leah Blend (10 kills), who seemed to answer every Salem run with an emphatic spike.

With the loss, the Tigers fall to 7-22 on the season. Salem has one more home game on Nov. 2, where they'll celebrate senior day at 7 p.m. against the University of Rio Grande (Ohio). The next day, they'll travel to Columbus, Ohio to face Ohio Dominican University.