RALEIGH, NC  - The Winston-Salem State Rams (16-10, 11-2 CIAA) notched a key Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division win, Tuesday evening when the team took a three-set road win over the Saint Augustine's Falcons (8-11, 6-7 CIAA). The Rams put on a dominating defensive effort to take the win, 25-22, 25-19, and 25-9.

It was the Rams' defense that led the team to the victory. As a team, the Rams held the Falcons to just 50 total points in the three sets. The Rams allowed just 28 kills by the Falcons to take the win. Offensively, WSSU junior Jasmine Smith led the way for the Rams with 10 kills. Sophomore Michelle Murray-Garcia added 18 digs in the match as well.

After getting off to a slow start, the Rams kicked things into gear early and never looked back to take the win. The Rams opened the set on a down note as the team allowed Saint Augustine's to take a 10-4 lead. From there, the Rams took control with a 12-4 run that left the team on top, 16-14. The Rams went ahead by as many as four points, 21-17 after a Smith kill. Things got tough from there when the Falcons went on a four-point run of their own to tie the set, 21-21, but the Rams would not relent as the team allowed just one more point to the Falcons before a block from sophomore Mia Herrod and junior outside hitter Sydney Holland ended the set and sealed the Rams' 25-22 win.

The second set saw a much better effort for the Rams. This time, it was the Rams who jumped out early with a 10-2 run to begin the set. Saint Augustine's would strike back with four unanswered points to cut the Rams' lead to four points, 10-6, but the Rams would answer with a run of their own later in the set. Once Saint Augustine's was able to pull to within one point of the Rams, 20-19, the team exploded late to take the second win with five straight points. The run included a pair of Smith kills as well as a kill from senior middle blocker Jocelyn Mills.

The third set was the most impressive for the Rams as the team dominated the final set from beginning to end. After playing to a 4-4 tie, the Rams put on a show with a 17-3 run to go ahead 21-7. From there, the rest was easy-going for the Rams as the team outscored the Falcons, 4-2 to claim the win after  a kill from senior outside hitter Teynia Shepherd, a kill from Smith and a pair of Saint Augustine's errors.

With the win, the Rams improve to 16-10 and more importantly, 11-2 in the CIAA. The team also improved to 5-2 in CIAA Southern Division play. 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.