Vikings Open Season With Pair of Losses at Wheaton

NORTON, Mass. – Salem State began their 2022 campaign with a tri-meet hosted by Wheaton on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings opened play with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-13 and 25-15) loss to Emmanuel before the Lyons capped the afternoon, shutting out Salem State (25-10, 26-24 and 25-11).

In the first match, Salem State hit just .200 with seven kills as the Saints took the first set 25-18. The Vikings struggled on offense in the next two sets, registering just 11 kills while committing 15 errors. Eva Haralabatos paced Salem State with 15 assists and four digs over the three sets with Gracie Dailey leading all Salem State players with five kills. Kailey Roche led the Vikings with six digs.

Despite a 25-10 opening set loss to the Lyons in the first set of their match, Salem State battled back in the second set, hitting .278 while erasing a 16-9 deficit before tying the game at 22-all on a kill by Abigail O'Connor. However, back-to-back errors by Salem State helped Wheaton secure a 26-24 victory. The Lyons clinched the match with a 25-11 win in the third set.

Haralabatos had seven assists and a pair of digs while Samantha Thoeun had a team-best six digs. Roche finished the match with five digs and two aces.