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Posted: Sep 20, 2025

Women's Volleyball Takes Down VTSU Johnson in Doubleheader Sweep

Women's Volleyball Takes Down VTSU Johnson in Doubleheader Sweep

THE BASICS 
Match 1: Salem State University, 3 (25-13, 26-24, 25-20) vs Vermont State University (VTSU) Johnson, 0
Match 2: Salem State University, 3 (25-14, 26-24, 25-22) vs VTSU Johnson, 0

Records: 
Salem State University Vikings (5-7)
VTSU Johnson Badgers (4-8)

Location: Johnson, Vt. - Carter Gymnasium

Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025

THE LEAD — The Salem State University women's volleyball team swept VTSU Johnson, 3-0, in both matchups between the two programs on Saturday afternoon at Carter Gymnasium.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 1 vs. VTSU)

  • Salem State dominated the first set early on as the squad scored the first six points before a Vikings serving error gave VTSU its first points. Back-to-back aces from Ariana Barrows (Danvers, Mass.) and Gianna Mahoney (Revere, Mass.) highlighted Salem's early offense. 
  • However, the Badgers trimmed the deficit to three (8-5), but the Vikings pulled away by going up 14-5 behind a 6-0 run. As the set went on, the hosts pulled within seven (20-13), but Salem closed out the first scoring five-straight points for a 25-13 set win. Sabina Kamanda (Dracut, Mass.) helped the Vikings close out the set with three aces. 
  • The Vikings continued their offensive momentum from the first set into the second by jumping out to an early 9-3 advantage after another Kamanda ace. Despite the large lead, VTSU hung around and eventually found themselves down two (15-13) courtesy of a 10-6 rally. Salem gave themselves some breathing room to go up 18-13 but once again, VTSU would not go quietly as the hosts pulled within one (18-17) after a Max Ludlow ace.
  • Both sides continued to play back and forth, and after the Badgers tied things at 22, they grabbed their first lead of the match thanks to a Haylee Hansen kill and would then go up 24-22 by taking advantage of a Salem attack error. However, the Vikings rallied and close out the second on a 4-0 run for the 26-24 set win after Barrows sealed the frame with a kill.
  • Early in the third, with the set tied at six, Salem utilized an 11-3 stretch to put themselves up eight (17-8). Keira Doherty (Woburn, Mass.) highlighted the Vikings offense during the run with two aces.
  • However, VTSU made the set more interesting as the Badgers made it a two-point game (22-20) thanks to a 12-5 run but the Vikings held strong and finished the match scoring the next three points for a 25-20 set win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (Match 1 vs. VTSU)

  • Kamanda led the Vikings offense with a season-high 10 kills. 
  • Celia Carbone (Lynnfield, Mass.) guided Salem's attack with 11 assists. 
  • On the defensive end, Kailey Roche (Billerica, Mass.) led the way with 16 digs. Salem State also saw Mahoney finish with over 10 digs, ending the match with 11. 
  • Hanson led the Badgers' offense with six kills in the first match.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 2 vs. VTSU)

  • Early in the first set after VTSU Johnson were down one (7-6), Salem gained some momentum and stormed ahead of the hosts, 17-9, thanks to an 11-2 run. Later, after VTSU made it a seven-point match (19-12), the squad finished off the Badgers on a 6-2 stretch for the 25-14 set win. Bella Coccia (Westfield, Mass.) highlighted the final rally for Salem with two kills.
  • VTSU's offense woke up in the second set by grabbing an early 9-4 lead by taking advantage of a Salem setting error. VTSU continued to keep its advantage five by going up 13-8, but Salem responded and recaptured the lead (14-13) on a 6-1 rally. 
  • Both sides continued to match each other's play as the set went on, and despite the Vikings having a four-point lead (22-18), the Badgers evened things at 22 thanks to a Salem error. However, Salem generated clutch late offense and ended up winning the second set, 26-24, after Kamanda got the set-ending kill. 
  • In the third set, Salem opened with an early 9-4 advantage after a Doherty ace, but VTSU kept things close and pulled within two (10-8). However, the Vikings started to pull away behind an 8-2 run that made it 18-10 by taking advantage of multiple Badgers errors.
  • As the match went on, Salem continued to keep VTSU at an arm's length and looked to be in cruise control after a Kamanda kill put the Vikings up 24-18. The Badgers would not go quietly as the hosts pulled within two (24-22) with a 6-0 run. Thankfully, a set error by VTSU gave Salem a 25-22 set and match win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (Match 2 vs. VTSU)

  • Two different Vikings finished the match with at least five kills, led by Coccia's season-high eight, followed by Gabriella Martinez (Peabody, Mass.) , who had five. 
  • Carbone once again led the Salem offense with nine assists on the afternoon.
  • Defensively, Roche paced the Vikings with 13 digs. 
  • Max Ludlow led the Badgers with 10 kills on the day. 
  • Salem State is currently on a two-match winning streak against VTSU. 

UP NEXT

  • Salem wraps up its three-match road trip when the squad heads to Emmanuel College on Wednesday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m.