WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (11-11) took a hard-fought five-set loss to the Lees-McRae Bobcats (14-7), Wednesday evening. The Lady Rams gave it their all in the tough loss as the team battled for every point in the match, but a late slump proved costly as the Lady Rams fell, 23-25, 25-15, 25-20, 19-25, and 12-15. The loss marked the team's third five-set match since last Monday.

Though the Lady Rams took the loss, the team had some really bright spots throughout the match. As a team, the Lady Rams totaled a solid 44 kills with 75 digs. WSSU junior right side hitter Olivia Owens led the effort with a double-double 11 kills and 14 digs. She also added three block assists while freshman outside hitter Sydney Holland added her own double-double effort with 11 kills and a team-high 17 digs. Senior setter Kayla Brass coordinated the effort with 35 assists.

The opening set turned out to be a roller coaster for the Lady Rams as the team saw an early lead dissipate late for the loss. After taking an early 14-10 lead, the Lady Rams ran into some struggles as the Bobcats rattled off five unanswered points to tie the match 15-15. From there, the Lady Rams kept the match tied at 20-20. However, a late 5-3 run by the Bobcats ended the set for the Lady Rams, 23-25.

After stumbling in the opening set, the Lady Rams found their grove in the second set and took control of the match with back-to-back wins. The team won the second set, 25-15 and the third set, 25-20.  The Lady Rams took control of the second early and never looked back after building a 16-8 lead. From there, the team cruised, pushing their lead to as many as nine points, 22-13 before closing out the set with the 25-15 lead. The team kept its momentum going into the third set when they built an early 12-8 lead. The Bobcats would make a comeback effort, cutting the WSSU lead down to two points, 19-17. However, the Lady Rams answered late when a service ace from freshman setter Mya Snow sparked a 6-3 run by the Lady Rams that was capped by an LMC service error that ended the set.

After cruising in the second and third sets, the Lady Rams ran into a challenge in the fourth set. There was a battle for every point in the set with neither team willing to back down. After battled to a 10-10 tie, the Lady Rams fell victim to a 5-1 run that left them trailing 15-11. The Lady Rams were able to shave a point off of their deficit, 17-20. However a late drought allowed the Bobcats to close out the set 25-19.

The final set of the match saw a great effort by the Lady Rams, but the team could not find the points that they needed. After playing to a 5-5 tie, the Lady Rams allowed four straight points to the Bobcats. The Lady Rams were able claw their way back into the set when a solo block by senior Jenna Baranowski capped back-to-back scores for the Lady Rams that pulled the team to within one point of the Bobcats, 10-11. However, the Lady Rams' magic ran out when Lees-McRae scored four of the next five points to end the match. A kill by freshman middle blocker Missy Fannin was the only score that the Lady Rams could manage in the loss.

With the nonconference loss, the Lady Rams fall to 11-11 on the season. The team will return to the road for their next action as they will head to Concord, West Virginia to take on the Concord (W. Va.) Mountain Lions. 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.