Salem University played a close first set in its opening match before dropping a pair of contests at an NCAA Division II volleyball tri-match hosted by Notre Dame College (Ohio) Saturday at South Euclid, Ohio. The Tigers fell to Frostburg State University 25-21, 25-15, 25-10 in the opener, followed by a 25-9, 25-12, 25-14 loss to Notre Dame.
 
The Tigers spotted Frostburg State the first five points of the match before kills by Alaina Weltz and Jalavia Johnson helped pull Salem within 10-9. Frostburg State answered with a 3-0 run, but a pair of kills by Johnson and a block by Johnson and Weltz made it a one-point game again at 17-16.
 
After Frostburg State built the margin to as many as six points, kills by Makhia Hinton and Yesenia Munoz helped the Tigers save three set points. The Bobcats stopped Salem's comeback effort with a kill to take a one-set lead. The Bobcats jumped out to quick leads in the next two sets to seal the match.
 
Johnson and Hinton led the Tigers with six kills apiece, while Weltz tallied 17 assists to go with five digs, three kills and an ace. Johnson recorded a team-high eight digs and Breslyn Argo led Salem in blocks with three.
 
Against Notre Dame, kills by Anna Veryser and Hinton helped Salem keep the first set close in the early going. But the Falcons used a 7-0 run to build a double-digit lead and were never headed.
 
Hinton finished with nine digs, while Johnson added eight digs for the second straight match.
 
Salem plays host to a tri-match Tuesday at T. Edwards Gymnasium, ending a run of 12 consecutive away contests. The Tigers face Kentucky State University at 3 p.m. and take on Ohio Valley University at 7 p.m. Kentucky State and Ohio Valley meet at 5 p.m.