NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's volleyball team returned to Andrews Hall for a non-conference matchup on Saturday morning, falling in straight sets to visiting Salem State University (15-25, 20-25, 9-25).

Despite the setback, the Cadets showed promising moments on both sides of the ball.  Bella Belldina Ray (Martinsburg, W.Va.) paced the offensive effort with seven kills and a block, while Taylor 'Rae' Lawing (Allen, Texas) added five kills and a pair of service aces.  Autumn Parkhurst (Parish, N.Y.) and Sarah DeBot (Rochester, N.Y.) combined for 20 assists, dishing out 11 and nine, respectively.  Defensively, Grace Davie (Lynnfield, Mass.) led the team with 13 digs, followed closely by Cameryn Jenkins (Monroe, Mich.) with 11.

Norwich came out strong in the opening set, capitalizing on early execution to build a 4-2 lead behind kills from Davie and Charlotte Johnson (Moultonborough, N.H.) and a sequence of Viking miscues.  A Lawing ace helped push the Cadets ahead, 8-5, before Salem State strung together a 3-0 run to reclaim the lead.  The Cadets responded well, briefly regaining a 10-9 advantage, but the Vikings seized momentum with a 12-point surge to flip the set.  Despite a brief Norwich push, Salem State held firm to take the opener.

The second set showcased Norwich's most complete effort of the day, as the Cadets once again opened with early rhythm, taking an 11-9 lead on a series of strong attacks and timely defensive plays.  The Vikings countered with a 14-5 run to swing the momentum and build a 23-16 edge.  The Cadets refused to go quietly, rattling off four of the next five points behind kills from Belldina Ray and Lawing and an ace from DeBot, but the Vikings notched a kill on set point to escape with a 2-0 lead.

Salem State controlled the third set from the outset, racing ahead with a 12-point lead before Norwich sparked a brief rally on a kill from Vanessa Whitmill (Fremont, Calif.).  The Cadets showed flashes of rhythm late, but were unable to sustain runs, as the Vikings closed out the match with a series of short bursts to seal the straight-set victory.

Norwich will return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Tuesday, Oct. 21, hosting Colby-Sawyer College at 4:00 p.m. for its penultimate home match of the 2025 season.  The Cadets then hit the road on Saturday, Oct. 25, traveling to Simmons University for a tri-match in Boston, opening against the host Sharks at 10:00 a.m. before taking on Albertus Magnus College at 12:00 p.m.