Women's Volleyball Tops Anna Maria, 3-1; Roche Sets New Career Digs Program Record

THE BASICS 
Salem State, 3 (25-18, 22-25, 25-10, 25-15) at Anna Maria, 1

Records: 
Anna Maria College AMCATS (3-15, 0-6 MASCAC)
Salem State University Vikings (9-11, 2-3 MASCAC)

Location: Paxton, Mass. - Fuller Activities Center

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025

THE LEAD—  The Salem State women's volleyball team earned its third-straight win by defeating Anna Maria, 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-10, 25-15), on Wednesday evening at Fuller Activities Center. Senior Kailey Roche (Billerica, Mass.) also set a new program record in career digs with 1,160. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both sides went back and forth early in the first set, and with Salem up just three (13-10), the Vikings gave themselves some breathing room and went up six (19-13) with a 6-3 run. Bella Coccia (Westfield, Mass.) highlighted the stretch with two kills for the Vikes.
• Salem continued its momentum on the offensive end and pushed its lead up to nine (23-14), but the AMCATS hung around, making it a six-point game (24-18). However, Anna Maria could not pull off the comeback as Ellie Hernsdorf (Granby, Conn.) recorded an ace to secure the 25-18 set one win.
• Early in the second set tied at four, Anna Maria's offense caught some momentum and jumped out to an 18-8 lead thanks to a 14-4 surge. However, Salem would not go quietly in the frame as the squad pulled within two (24-22) courtesy of a 14-6 rally led by two kills and an ace from Ariana Barrows (Danvers, Mass.). Unfortunately, the Vikings could not complete the comeback as Anna Maria took the next point for a 25-22 set two win.
• The third set was all Salem State. With just a three-point lead early on (7-4), the Blue and Orange surged ahead to go up 12 (20-8) thanks to a 13-4 run. During Salem's offensive explosion, Roche showcased the offense with three service aces. From then on, the Vikes closed out the third, outscoring the hosts, 5-2 for a 25-10 set win.
• In the fourth set, Salem continued its momentum from the third and scored seven unanswered points to start off the frame. Celia Carbone (Lynnfield, Mass.) led the opening offense for Salem with three service aces. 
• Anna Maria eventually broke up the scoring and made it 7-2, Salem stormed ahead by as much as 14 (22-8) with a 15-6 run. Allie Ulmschneider (Somerset, Mass.) helped the surge with four kills. After a Maya Lily Dunn (Salem, Mass.) ace made it 24-11, the AMCATS tried to fight off the final point and pulled within nine (24-15) but thanks to an Anna Maria serving error, the Vikings came away with the 25-15 set win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Presley Shairs (Salem, Mass.) led the Salem offense with 11 kills. She has now posted 10-plus kills in nine contests this year.
• Carbone guided the Vikes offense with 22 helpers on the night. Carbone has finished with 20 or more assists in seven matches this season.
• On the defensive end, Carbone and Roche finished with 10 or more digs at 18 and 12, respectively. 
• Roche's 1,160 career digs surpassed the previous program record of 1,149 held by Hannah Mullarkey (2014-17) based upon available data. 
• Vanessa Guimaraes led the AMCATS with 11 kills on the night.
• Gia Hall dished out 22 assists for Anna Maria. 
• Salem's three-match win streak is the longest since 2018, when the Vikes won six in a row.

UP NEXT

• Salem State wraps up its three-game road trip on Saturday, October 25 at MCLA for a noon matchup.