WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (13-19, 10-3 CIAA) stepped up in one of their largest challenges of the season when the team took a five-set Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division win over the Fayetteville State Lady Broncos (14-12, 10-3 CIAA), Tuesday evening. The showdown was everything to be expected in a match-up between the two top teams in the CIAA South.

The match was an intense one from the very beginning after Fayetteville State dominated the opening set with a 25-14 win. The Lady rams responded in the second set with a 25-19 win, followed by a 25-23 win in the third set. The momentum swung to the other side of the court when the Lady Broncos took a 29-27 win in the fourth set. But, in the end, the Lady Rams dug deep and delivered with a 15-9 win in the final set to seal the victory.

The match was an offensive showdown with the two teams combining for 117 total kills. The Lady Rams notched 58 kills in the match along with 8.0 total team blocks. WSSU sophomore outside hitter Avoni Seymour led the Lady Rams to the win with 17 kills in the match. She also added four total blocks (one solo). Junior middle blocker Francesca Edgerton added 12 kills in the match. Senior setter Kiara Brown coordinated the WSSU attack with 49 assists and 11 digs while freshman libero Brittany Rich added 18 digs.

With the win, the Lady Rams win their eighth straight match and improve to 6-1 in the CIAA Southern Division to tie Fayetteville State for first place. The Lady Rams will return to action next Monday, when the team hosts the Shaw Lady Bears in a 6:00 p.m. match. For more information on Lady Rams volleyball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.