Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Jalavia Johnson recorded a season-high 14 kills with no errors, but it wasn't enough as Salem University opened play in the Kutztown University tournament with a 25-19, 25-18, 25-18 loss to Saint Michael's College Friday at Kutztown, Pa. Johnson, who also tallied seven digs, two blocks and two service aces, finished with a season-best .438 hitting percentage.
 
In the nightcap, Salem fell to Goldey-Beacom College 25-20, 26-24, 25-14. The Tigers place four players in double figures in digs, led by Liane Moser with 15. Setter Alaina Weltz, who also tallied five kills, notched a double-double with 21 assists and 10 digs.
 
Salem (0-6) rebounded from a first-set loss to Goldey-Beacom by jumping out to a 5-1 lead in set two. The Tigers were sparked by early kills from Moser and Autumn Southern, along with a block by Johnson and Weltz. Salem built a six-point lead before Goldey-Beacom rallied. The Tigers had an opportunity to serve for the set, but the Lightning scored five consecutive points to take a two-set lead. Goldey-Beacom raced out to a 7-1 lead in the third set on its way to close out the win.
 
Johnson finished with seven kills and 11 digs, while Moser and Southern added six kills apiece. Elise Valdez recorded 10 digs for the Tigers.
 
The Tigers used Johnson's ace and a kill by Anna Veryser to take a 7-5 lead in the opening set against Saint Michael's. But the Purple Knights rallied to take the lead and used a 5-1 run to pull away.
 
The second set was virtually a repeat of the first an ace by Weltz and a kill by Yesenia Munoz helped stake the Tigers to an early two-point advantage. After a kill by Johnson broke a 6-6 tie, Saint Michael's used another 5-1 run to take the lead for good.
 
Salem broke a 3-3 tie in the third set with four unanswered points on three kills by Johnson and an ace by Moser. Saint Michael's responded with four consecutive points and pulled away to seal the win.
 
Moser and Munoz finished with six kills apiece, while Weltz recorded 23 assists. Valdez led the Tigers defensively with 10 digs to give her back-to-back double-digit performances on the day.
 
Salem concludes tournament play Saturday with a pair of matches. The Tigers take on host Kutztown at 10 a.m., then face Notre Dame College (Ohio) at 4 p.m.