WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (6-4, 3-0 CIAA) closed out the 2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Volleyball Round-Up in style when the team took a dominating three-set win over the Bowie State Bulldogs (4-9, 2-1 CIAA), Sunday afternoon. The Rams dominated all three sets of the match and clicked on all cylinders to take the victory, 25-12, 25-14, and 25-21.

The Rams had a great overall effort as the team played well in all facets of the game. Offensively, the Rams totaled 29 kills while allowing just 18 kills to the Bulldogs. The Rams also committed just 13 attack errors in the match as well. The team also added nine service aces. Senior right side hitter Olivia Owens led the way for the Rams with nine kills and six total blocks (one solo) in the match. Freshman middle blocker Christa Brown added a great effort as well with a kills and three total blocks (none solo). Junior outside hitter Teynia Shepherd also added seven kills in the match.

The Rams took control of the match in the opening set and never looked back. In the opening set, the Rams wasted little time as they took control of the set early. The team jumped out to a 14-5 lead to take control of the set. Bowie State would have an answer with a four-point run that cut the WSSU lead to five points, 14-9, but the Rams soon answered with a run of their own with a five-point run that gave the team its biggest lead of the set, 20-9. From there, the Rams went on to closed out the set with the 25-12 win. The second set turned out to be more of the same as the Rams once again jumped out to a 13-7 lead. Later in the set, the Rams pushed their way to a 22-11 lead after a 9-2 WSSU run that included a pair of service aces from sophomore setter Jasmine Smith.  With the set well in hand, the Rams cruised to the 25-14 win. The final set was the most exciting one in the match as the Rams battled their way from behind to take the win. Things were close for much of the set when Bowie State went on a 7-1 run that left the Rams trailing 11-16. It was then that the Rams stepped up their efforts to chip away at their deficit. After cutting the deficit to just four points 17-21, the Rams took control of the set and scored eight unanswered points to claim the match victory.

With the win, the Rams improve to 6-4 overall and 3-0 in CIAA play. The Rams will look to keep things going when they host Fayetteville State in their first CIAA Southern Division match of the season, Thursday at Whitaker Gymnasium. The match is free to the public and is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start.

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.