SALISBURY, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (14-13, 13-3) closed out Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play in style when the team took an impressive four-set win over a tough Livingstone College Blue Bears (19-11, 5-9 CIAA), Thursday evening. After a slow effort in the opening set, the Lady Rams kicked into gear to take the big win, 19-25, 25-13, 25-13, and 25-16.

As a team, the Lady Rams gave a solid effort with the team totaling 47 kills with just 19 attack errors. The team also benefitted from six service aces. The Lady Rams were also solid defensively when they recorded 54 digs in the match. Junior right side hitter Olivia Owens led the way for the Lady Rams with 16 total kills and a three total blocks (none solo) in the match. Freshman outside hitter Sydney Holland added a double-double 14 kills and 13 digs in the match. Senior liberto Devonte Reese added 12 digs while freshman outside hitter Jasmine Smith added 10 digs as well.

The opening set was an exciting one with the two teams playing to an 18-18 tie before Livingstone went on a 7-1 run that included the Blue Bears scoring five straight points to end the set.

After getting challenged early, the Lady Rams responded with some dominating efforts in the next two sets. The team took control early with a 5-2 start to the match. However, it was a nine-point WSSU run that put the set away for the Lady Rams as the team jumped ahead, 22-8. After allowing five more points to the Blue Bears, including four straight, the Lady Rams closed out the set with the 25-13 set win. The third set saw more of the same as the Lady Rams jumped out to a 7-0 lead. After going ahead by as many as 11 points, 18-7, the Lady Rams and Blue Bears traded points late, but WSSU held off the surging Blue Bears to go ahead 2-1.

The final set of the match was another hard-fought effort between the two teams. After playing to a 6-6 tie, the Lady Rams kicked things into gear and built a 14-9 lead to take control of the set. The Blue Bears made things interesting when they cut the WSSU lead down to three points, 15-12, but the Lady Rams soon answered and asserted themselves to push their lead to eight points, 20-12. From there, the Lady Rams held off the Blue Bears to finish the match with the 25-16 set win.

With the win, the Lady Rams complete CIAA play with a 13-3 record and an 8-2 record in CIAA Southern Division play. The Lady Rams will have to wait to see the results of the Fayetteville State/Johnson C. Smith match to determine a division champion. 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.