For the Salem girls volleyball team, chemistry wasn’t an elective, it was a requirement.

Head coach Dan Young said his squad has faced a variety of hurdles, including position changes due to inconsistent play, that have brought the squad closer together.

“This team has been through a lot on and off the court, and despite that they have stuck together better than any team I have had,” said Young. “Chemistry has been forced upon us.”

The Blue Devils continued on their path to the playoffs with a straight-set victory over visiting Trinity on Monday, Oct. 19, to improve to 12-3.

Sarah Scott delivered a 12- assist match. The junior setter led the way during the third game, as Salem took a 10-0 advantage behind her service attack.

Senior captain Courtney Wright added four kills, while Melissa Ouellet chipped in five kills and three blocks. Despite its impressive record, Salem has so far proved vulnerable to the top Division I teams.

Spaulding, Londonderry and Bishop Guertin, the three teams ahead of the locals in the standings, have beaten the Blue Devils.

Though his team won its first five matches, Young was unhappy with his athletes’ play. As a result the coach moved Nicole Boucher from outside hitter to middle hitter and swapped Kerry White to the outside.

“We’ve made a lot of adjustments, and we’re starting to see the fruits of that,” said Young. “The consistency that wasn’t there is with us now … We are getting over (the mistakes) a lot better. We’ve made sure that it doesn’t affect us on the next play.”

Another difference-maker in Salem’s recent play has been Steph Long, a key contributor off the bench. Young said the outside hitter’s passing and defensive abilities allow him, in essence, to bring a starter off the bench.

The postseason opens Wednesday, Oct. 28, with the preliminary round. Salem concludes its regular season on Friday, Oct. 23, with a match against Merrimack that could decide the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.