WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (9-5, 5-1 CIAA) got one of their biggest wins of the season, Saturday afternoon when the team took a five-set win over the Virginia State Trojans (8-5, 5-2 CIAA). The win was a key one for the Rams as the match featured the two top teams from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) divisions as the Rams lead the CIAA Southern Division while the Trojans lead the CIAA Northern Division.

The Ram had to earn the victory as they held off a tough Trojans team. In the end, the Rams claim the win 25-21, 15-25, 25-22, 21-25, and 15-10. WSSU junior setter Jasmine Smith pushed the Rams to the win with a unique double-double. She led the Rams with 18 kills while also added 25 assists in the match. Senior outside hitter Teynia Shepherd added her third double-double effort of the week when she totaled 10 kills with 16 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Mia Herrod added 14 kills of her own.

The match was a see-saw battle for every point with the momentum swings from one side of the court to the other throughout the match. In the opening set, the Rams jumped out to an 11-6 lead before fending off Virginia State rally that left the Rams top 20-19. However, the Rams would hold off the Trojans when some late errors by the Trojans sealed the WSSU opening set win.

The second set was all Trojans, however, as the Rams were dominated, 15-25. After falling into a 4-14 deficit, the Rams could get no closer than seven points when a block from senior Jocelyn Mills and junior Sidney Holland capped a three-point WSSU run and pulled the Rams to within seven points, 7-14. In the end, the Rams would never breach the Trojans' 10-point cushion and finished with the 15-25 set loss.

The third set saw a much better effort from the Rams. After falling behind, 9-13, the Rams regained control of the set when the team mounted a 7-1 run and took control of the set, 18-17. After playing to a 19-19 tie, the Rams really kicked things into gear with a 6-3 run to claim the set victory.

The fourth set was equally thrilling when the Rams took a 21-25 fourth set loss to tie the match 2-2. The opening of the set was tough with the Rams clinging to a 17-16 lead. However, the Rams were outscored 8-6 to fall, 22-25.

When faced with the challenge, the Rams stepped up to the plate to claim the victory. The Rams took control of the set early and never looked back. The Rams opened things up in a big way when a block by Mills and Shepherd capped an 8-3 run by the Rams. After Virginia State cut the WSSU lead down to four points 12-4, the Rams answered in a big way when a Herrod kill was followed by a pair of VSU errors to seal the victory.

With the win, the Rams improve to 9-5 overall and 5-1 in CIAA play. The team would return to action later in the day when they host the Elizabeth City State Vikings in the evening match of the round up. For more information on Rams volleyball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on towww.WSSURams.com.