WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (4-6) could not overcome a slow start as they took a tough three-set loss to the UNC-Pembroke Braves (8-8), Thursday evening. The Lady Rams continually improved through the match, but the team could not overcome their struggles as they finished evening with the 13-25, 23-25, and 15-25 loss.

Though hampered by miscues, the Lady Rams continued to fight past their early struggles for the remainder of the match. The team opened the match with some early struggles as the totaled just six kills with nine attack errors in the opening set. The team bounced back with just six errors in each of the final two sets. The Lady Rams finished the match with 26 kills, but 21 attack errors. WSSU freshman Jasmine Smith continued her recent impressive play with a team-high 10 kills in the match while junior right side Olivia Owens added eight kills.

The Lady Rams' struggles began in the opening set. After battling to a 5-5 tie, the Lady Rams allowed seven unanswered points to the Braves, including two attack errors and a receiving error. The Lady Rams would whittle their deficit down to six points, things once again got way from the Lady Rams as UNCP closed out the set with a 7-1 run that left the Lady Rams with the opening set loss.

The second set saw the best effort for the Lady Rams as the team scored 23 points in the set. The team once again kept things close early, trailing 5-6, the team once again fell victim to a Braves run with UNCP jumping out to a 13-8 lead. The Lady Rams answered later in the set with a run of their own when the team mounted a 7-1 run to take their first lead of the match 21-18. However, the Braves answered, outscoring the Lady Rams 7-2 to close out the set and gave the Lady Rams the 25-23 loss.

The Lady Rams continued their strong play in the third set, but faded late in the final set of the match. The two teams battled to a 13-13 tie before a 12-2 UNCP run ended the evening for the Lady Rams.

The Lady Rams won't have long to rest as the team will return to action this weekend when they head to Charlotte, N.C. to take part in the Central Intercollegaite Athletic Association (CIAA) Round-Up. 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.