While pink was the color of the night as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the green and black came up short against the gray and blue as Salem University fell to Glenville State University 25-23, 25-15, 25-17 in NCAA Division II volleyball Monday at T. Edward Davis Gymnasium. Yesenia Munoz led the Tigers with eight kills on "Dig Pink Night."
 
Prior to the match, names were read of Tiger volleyball players and coaches' loved ones who have been affected by breast cancer, followed by a moment of silence.
 
The opening set saw nine ties and three lead changes as both teams battled back from three-point deficits. Kills by Liane Moser accounted for Salem's first three points and the Tigers took a quick 4-1 lead. Kills by setter Alaina Weltz and Breslyn Argo broke a pair of ties before Glenville State rallied to take its first lead of the set at 13-12.
 
Glenville State built an 18-15 before Munoz's kill triggered a Tiger rally. A kill by Argo highlighted Anna Veryser's service run as Salem scored four unanswered points to take a 22-20 lead. But Glenville State used a pair of kills by Jyra Clark-Castro and an ace by Skylar Mace to regain the lead. Salem saved one set point before the Pioneers held on to claim the set.
 
Makhia Hinton had an early kill for Salem in the second set, but Glenville State broke a tie with a 4-0 run and led the rest of the way. Lenka Jakovljevic's service run helped Salem cut an eight-point deficit in half, serving an ace and forcing an overpass that led to a kill by Weltz as the Tigers pulled within 12-8. But after a Glenville State timeout, the Pioneers ran off eight straight points and went on to take a two-set advantage.
 
After a pair of aces helped stake Glenville State to a 3-0 lead in the third set, Salem evened the set on a kill by Munoz and back-to-back blocks by Argo and Veryser. The two teams exchanged a series of side outs until Glenville State came back from a timeout with 10 unanswered points to take a 16-6 lead and break the game open. Karlei Shaver had four aces during the run for the Pioneers.
 
Kills by Veryser and Argo helped Salem pull within 20-15, but that was as close as the Tigers would get.
 
Argo and Veryser shared match-high honors with four blocks apiece. Argo and Moser each finished with five kills, while Veryser added four kills. Weltz, who had three "two-ball" kills, finished with 12 assists and Kyana Cardenas added 11 kills. Hinton and Elise Valdez had six digs apiece.
 
Seanna Stump led all players with 13 kills for Glenville State, while Shaver added 11 kills and five aces.
 
Monday's contest was the first of three home matches for Salem this week. The Tigers play host to Davis and Elkins College Tuesday and entertain Ohio Christian University Thursday. Match time both nights is 7 p.m.