WINSTON-SALEM, NC – For the second time in two days, the Winston-Salem State Rams (11-5, 6-1 CIAA)  had to dig deep to grind out a key five-set victory when the team took a five-set win over the Chowan Hawks (10-7, 7-2 CIAA) on the second day of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Volleyball Round Up. After taking wins in the first two sets, 25-18, and 25-23, the Rams dropped back-to back sets to the Hawks, 16-25, and 20-25 before closing out the match with a 16-14 fifth-set victory.

The Rams took the win behind one of their top performances of the season. It was the Rams' defense that keyed the win as the Rams totaled 82 digs in the match while totaling 49 kills in the match. Three Rams recorded double-digit kills in the match with sophomore Mia Herrod leading the way with 13 kills. Senior middle blocker Jocelyn Mills added 11 kills along with five total blocks (none solo). Junior setter Jasmine Smith also added her second double-double effort when she totaled 10 kills with 19 assists. Freshman libero Mikayla Litton led the WSSU defense with 31 digs. Junior outside hitter Sydney Holland added 12 digs as well.

The Rams had some great performances in the first two sets of the match. After taking control early and cruising to the 25-18 opening set win, the Rams rallied late for a 25-23 win in the second set. The Rams jumped out early with a 16-10 lead early. From there, the team pushed its lead to as many as eight points, 19-11, the team had to fend off the Hawks' late rally as the team recorded back-to-back scores to claim the 25-18 win. The second set was a much different effort as it was Chowan who jumped out to early 6-2 lead. The Rams would claw their way back into set after a 3-1 WSSU run pulled the Rams to within one point, 8-9. The Rams claimed their first lead of the set when a Smith kill put the team on top, 18-17. The key moment of the set came with the scored tied 22-22 before the Rams closed the set with a 3-1 run that included a block from Shepherd and sophomore Christa Brown and a pair of Chowan attack errors before a Brown kill ended the set and left the Rams on top, 2-0.

The third and fourth sets belonged to the Hawks as Rams fell, 16-25. The Rams opened the set, falling behind, 4-12. However, the team clawed their way back into the set as a three-point WSSU run helped cut the Rams' deficit in half, 11-15. The Rams fell into another eight-point deficit as four straight Hawks points left the Rams trailing, 11-19. In the final points a Smith kill was all that the Rams could muster as the team fell, 16-15. The fourth set was another strong effort by both teams. Once again, the Rams fell behind, 3-8. The WSSU deficit grow to as many as eight points, 9-17 before the Rams made a last stand. The Rams mounted a 5-1 run that included a pair of Herrod kills to kick things off and cut their deficit down to four points, 14-18. The Rams pulled to within two points 19-21 after a block by Mills and freshman outside hitter Eboni Abdus-Samad, but the team would get no closer as Chowan closed out the set with only one WSSU point scored in the final five points of the set.

The final set was just as hard-fought for both teams. Although WSSU reached the mid-way point first with an 8-6 start to the set. However, Chowan tied the set once again. Still the Rams would not relent when a Mills kill put the Rams ahead, 12-10. Still Chowan did not go away as the score was tied once again 12-12. The two teams played to another 14-14 tie before the Rams got back-to-back kills from Brown to finish the victory.

With the win, the Rams improve to 11-5 and 6-1 in CIAA play.  The Rams will return to action, Thursday when the team heads to Raleigh, N.C. to take on the Shaw Lady Bears. 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.