WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams volleyball team (1-0) opened the 2015 in style when the team took an impressive four-set win over the Shepherd Rams (0-1) on the first day of the 2015 Spike Out Hunger Challenge.

As a team, the WSSU had an impressive performance with 39 total kills and eight service aces. Junior outside hitter Teynia Shepherd led the way for the Rams with 12 kills in the match while sophomore outside hitter Sydney Holland added 10 kills. Sophomore Jasmine Smith coordinated the WSSU attack with 30 assists on the day. Sophomore libero Michelle Murray-Garcia had an impressive defensive performance with 16 digs while Smith added 10.

Things got off to a slow start for the Rams as they took a hard-fought 25-27 loss to Shepherd in the opening set of the match. After battling from a 13-16 deficit, the Rams clawed their way back into the set and tied the score at 24-24. However, the Rams allowed back-to-back scores by Shepherd, followed by a WSSU attack error to end the set with the 25-27 loss. WSSU would bounce back with a dominating effort in the second set. The effort was highlighted by a 9-2 WSSU run that left the team on top, 21-12. From there, WSSU was able to cruise to the 25-17 set win at tied the match at a set each. The Rams kept up their dominating efforts in the third set with another impressive win. Once again WSSU took control early and never looked back. This time, WSSU ran off an impressive 10-1 run to take control of the set, 19-7 and rolled to the 25-12 win and regained control of the match with a 2-1 lead.  With victory in sight, WSSU took control of the set early and never looked back. After claiming an early 11-10 lead, WSSU went on another big run, outscoring Shepherd 5-2 to take a 15-10 lead. Though Shepherd would continue to battle and pulled to within four points, 18-22, WSSU closed out the set with 5-1 run that gave WSSU the 25-19 set win and the match victory.

With the win, the Rams open the season at 1-0. The team will return to action for the second day of the Spike Out Hunger Challenge. 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.