Yesenia Munoz led all players with a career-high 18 kills and Kyana Cardenas also established a career best with 44 assists, but Salem University's comeback effort fell short in a 25-17, 25-22, 13-25, 25-20 loss to Ohio Christian University Thursday at T. Edwards Gymnasium. Jalavia Johnson notched a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs for the Tigers.
 
After spotting Ohio Christian the first two sets, Salem broke away from an early one-point lead to dominate the third set. Munoz sandwiched a pair of kills around an Ohio Christian error during a three-point run to extend the Tigers' lead to 10-6. The Trailblazers got as close as two points before aces by Munoz and Liane Moser helped push Salem's advantage to 15-10.
 
Johnson accounted for three points during a 4-1 run with two kills and a block with Anna Veryser. OCU pulled within 19-13 with a side out, but Salem scored the final six points of the set. Munoz combined with Moser and Veryser on blocks and Cardenas served an ace as the Tigers sent the match to a fourth set.
 
Makhia Hinton's kill evened the fourth-set score at 5-5, the fourth tie of the set. Ohio Christian's Kiara Rohrer had one of her 17 kills during a 9-2 run and the Trailblazers withstood a late Tiger comeback to lead the rest of the way.
 
Munoz, Moser and Veryser ignited a Tiger run with kills on three consecutive points, and Johnson capped the run on a kill and a block with Hinton to draw Salem within 18-15. After Ohio Christian pushed the margin back up to as many as five points, Salem used kills by Munoz, Veryser and Moser to close the gap to 23-20. But OCU scored the final two points to finish the match.
 
The opening set saw 10 ties and four lead changes before Ohio Christian broke away from a 14-14 tie. The Trailblazers' Cayla Allen served three aces during a set-ending 11-3 run. The second set was the closest of the match with neither team leading by more than two points until OCU broke a 22-22 tie with a 3-0 run to build a two-set advantage.
 
Moser added eight kills for the Tigers, which finished with a season-high 51 kills Thursday. Alaina Weltz, who transitioned from setter to libero, led Salem defensively with 12 digs. Munoz had four blocks and three aces to give her 23.5 points (combined kills, blocks and aces), the Tigers' highest single-match points total this season. Veryser added three blocks.
 
After the conclusion of the match, the two teams joined together on the court for a prayer circle.
 
Salem wraps up its 2019 season with three matches next week, the first on the road and the final two at home. The Tigers travel to Vienna, W.Va., Tuesday to take on Ohio Valley University. Match time is 7 p.m.
 
The Tigers conclude the season next Wednesday against Concord University and next Friday against Bluefield State College.