SALEM, W.Va. — A powerhouse offensive display in the third set and a clutch late-game run in the fourth propelled the Salem University women's volleyball team to a 3-1 victory (25-19, 14-25, 25-16, 25-19) over Point Park University on Thursday night inside T. Edward Davis Gymnasium.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 7-3 on the season.
Salem set the tone in the opening set, relying on steady backline defense from libero Ana Julia Avila Vian to keep Point Park's attackers at bay. Outside hitter Alexandra Vigneron came up big at the net, providing key terminations down the stretch as the Tigers capitalized on late offensive miscues by the Pioneers to take the first set 25-19.
Point Park (0-7) answered back swiftly in the second frame. The Pioneers found their offensive rhythm early, stringing together a series of quick transition kills to hit .296 as a team. Capitalizing on a brief lapse in Salem's defense, Point Park pulled away for a decisive 25-14 win to level the match at one set apiece.
Refusing to let momentum slip, the Tigers responded with their best volleyball of the night in set three. Salem's dual-setter system of Katie Kennedy and Amari Nunez orchestrated an efficient offense, spreading the ball cleanly to keep Point Park's front row guessing. The Tigers put down a match-high 19 kills and posted a sparkling .318 hitting percentage in the frame, driven by heavy swings from Hailey Haynes and Brianna Beyerle to reclaim the match lead with a 25-16 victory.
The fourth set proved to be a battle of attrition, featuring nine ties and multiple lead changes as both teams traded blows. Locked in a 17-17 deadlock late in the set, Noemi Combi stepped up to the service line and changed the complexion of the match. Combi dropped in three service aces during a crucial late run, breaking the tie and giving Salem the separation it needed. A final termination from Beyerle sealed the 25-19 set win and clinched the match victory for the Tigers.
Vigneron led the Salem attack on the night, finishing with a team-high 14 kills. Beyerle delivered a standout double-double performance, racking up 12 kills and 17 digs, while Avila Vian anchored the back row with a game-high 28 digs. Kennedy and Nunez directed the offense with 22 and 13 assists, respectively. Combi added six kills, 10 digs, and three aces to round out the box score.
