FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Winston-Salem State University Rams (20-7) swept the Lincoln (Pa.) Lady Lions (6-14) in three sets Friday afternoon to secure a spot in the semifinal round of the 2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Volleyball Championship Tournament, Saturday. The win puts the Rams into new territory as the team's 20 wins are the most in in nearly two decades.

Winston-Salem State earned a 25-10 victory in the first set and followed up with 25-15 and 25-14 victories in the second the third sets, respectively.  WSSU senior right side hitter Olivia Owens led all players in the contest with nine kills for Winston-Salem State while sophomore outside hitter Sydney Holland followed with eight kills in the victory while sophomore setter Jasmine Smith handed out 24 assists and completed a double-double with 10 digs. Defensively, sophomore libero Michelle Murray-Garcia grabbed 21 digs over the course of the contest while junior outside hitter Teynia Sheperd also added 10 digs.

The Rams raced to a quick 4-0 lead at the start of the first set.  They built their lead to 11-1 after a kill by Owens, leaving the Lady Lions trailing with an insurmountable deficit.  Winston-Salem State maintained a comfortable lead through the duration of the first set and clinched the 25-10 opening victory on a Lady Lion error. Lincoln (Pa.) fought back in the second set, matching the Rams point-for-point early in the set.  With the score tied 7-7, the Rams orchestrated an eight-point run to leave the Lady Lions trailing 15-7.  Lincoln (Pa.) was unable to fight back and suffered the 25-15 setback in set two after a Holland kill. The Rams kept their momentum in the third set and jumped to an early 7-2 lead to establish control, but Lincoln (Pa.) would not go away easily.  With the score knotted 10-10, a 6-1 Winston-Salem State run pushed the Rams ahead 16-11.  The Lady Lions were unable to overcome the deficit and Winston-Salem State closed out the 25-14 set win using a Lady Lion attack error. 

With the win, the Rams improve to 20-7, eclipsing a 19-win season in 2011 when the team went 19-11. Winston-Salem State will take on the Virginia State Trojans in a semifinal match at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Felton J. Capel Arena on the campus of Fayetteville State University.

For more information on Rams volleyball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.