Salem Spirits Volleyball- USA South Tournament

By: Kiersten Nelson

Photo By: Isabella Wyatt

This month, our Salem Spirits volleyball team proudly advanced to the USA South Tournament with an impressive 30-6 record. Entering the tournament, the Salem Spirits achieved a remarkable tally of 1,649 kills, 1,502 aces, and 2,114 digs. The Salemites would also like to congratulate Aspen Bradley, Anna Rhymer, Maia Johnson, and Linda Grace York for their recognition by the USA South Athletic Conference. Bradley and Rhymer were the first players to earn First Team All-Conference honors, while Johnson received an Honorable Mention and York earned a spot on the All-Sportsmanship Team. Additionally, a special shoutout goes to Aspen Bradley, Ellie Scherer, and Leah Rymer for their selection to the All-Tournament Team.

Before the first game in the USA South Tournament, I had the opportunity to gain some insight from sisters Anna and Leah Rhymer. Let’s start with Anna, the senior. “As a senior who has been here for three years, it’s hard to believe that this is my final week playing at Salem. This season seems to have flown by. We just celebrated our Senior Day last Saturday, and we will be graduating six seniors this year. It has been a true privilege to play alongside and forge friendships with so many wonderful individuals. I’m thrilled that our team managed to earn the title of USA South Regular Season Champions.” Leah shared her positive sentiments as well, stating, “I am incredibly proud of all my teammates and the dedication they demonstrate during practices and games. We’re set to face Brevard in the first round; they are a strong team, but I believe we can defeat them and go on to win the tournament championship.”

Photo By: Isabella Wyatt

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, the Salem Spirits achieved a decisive victory over Brevard in the opening match of the USA South Tournament. They started strong, winning the first set with a score of 25 to 14, showcasing the talent of their starters: Leah Rymer, Anna Rymer, Aspen Bradley, McKenzie Tullock, Makailey Albright, and Olivia Torres. In the second set, Salem secured another win, finishing at 25 to 18. The Spirits rounded out the match with a final set score of 25 to 14, eliminating Brevard from the tournament and sending the crowd into a frenzy of excitement. 

For the second round of the USA South Tournament, the Salem Spirits faced off against William Peace University on Thursday, Nov. 14, in their home gym. Continuing their strong performance, Salem swept the Pacers in three swift sets. They opened the first set with a dominant 25 to 14 win, followed by another victory in the second set at 25 to 18, and concluded the match with a final score of 25 to 14. With two impressive victories under their belt, the Salem Spirits were set to advance to the championship against Southern Virginia.

Our Salem Spirits Volleyball team had an impressive season, culminating in a spot in the USA South Conference Championship. The match began with an electrifying first set, where the Spirits triumphed over their opponents with a score of 26 to 24. The second set proved to be just as thrilling, but the Virginia Knights emerged victorious, winning 25 to 22. The competition continued to escalate in the third set, where the Knights again took the lead with a score of 25 to 21. In a hard-fought fourth set, the Salem Spirits showcased their determination. However, they narrowly lost to the Knights with a score of 25 to 27. Aspen Bradley led the charge for Salem with an impressive sixteen kills, while Ellie Scherer contributed eleven. Additionally, Jolina Bun made a significant impact defensively, finishing with thirty-two digs.

Photo By: Isabella Wyatt

The Salem Spirit Volleyball team may have concluded their season, but their impressive turnaround this year is truly commendable. With a record of 32–7, they achieved remarkable milestones, including Aspen Bradley reaching 1,000 kills and Leah Rymer surpassing 1,000 assists. We extend our best wishes to our six seniors—King, York, Wood, Raney, Eckenroth, and Rymer—as they embark on the next chapters of their lives. For the rest of the team, we eagerly look forward to seeing the Salem Spirit Volleyball team back in action next year! Go Spirits!

Photo By: Isabella Wyatt