WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (7-5, 4-1 CIAA) had to fend off a scrappy Saint Augustine's Falcons (4-7, 2-3 CIAA) for a four-set victory, Monday evening. The Rams took the win behind a great offensive effort, winning, 25-18, 25-12, 22-25, and 25-16.

As a team, the Rams combined a strong offensive effort with some stingy defense to hold off the Falcons, who battled for the entire match. The Rams had one of their most efficient offensive efforts of the season, totaling 43 kills with just 21 hitting errors. The WSSU tandem of sophomore Mia Herrod and senior Teynia Shepherd led the way for the Rams. Herrod recorded a game-high 11 kills in the match while Shepherd added a double-double 10 kills and 10 digs in the match. She also added five total blocks (one solo) as well. Defensively, fellow senior Jocelyn Mills added seven total blocks (none solo) as well.

The Rams dominated the first set of the match, winning 25-18. The Rams controlled the opening set early when the team got the match started with a 13-2 run to start the match. After allowing the Falcons to cut the WSSU lead down to six points, 20-14, the Rams soon answered with a 5-4 run that ended the set with the 25-18 win.

As impressive as the first set was, the Rams were even more impressive in the second set. After keeping things close with an early 11-9 lead, the Rams mounted an 8-2 run that left WSSU ahead, 21-10. From there the Rams cruised when a Shepherd service ace and back-to-back attack errors by the Falcons ended the set with the Rams on top, 25-12.

The Rams found themselves in a heated battle in the third set, however, as Saint Augustine's came out on top, 25-22. After playing to a slim 15-14 lead, the Rams were the ones on the end of a Saint Augustine's 9-2 run that left the Rams trailing, 20-23. From there, the Rams managed just two more scores before Saint Augustine's finished out the set, 25-22.

The third set loss turned out to be just the spark that the Rams needed when they broke out for a 25-16 fourth-set win. The Rams started the set with a 15-2 run. Saint Augustine's would challenge once again when they scored three straight points to trim the WSSU lead down to 10 points, 17-7, but the Rams would not be denied. After WSSU pulled ahead once again, the team found a late challenge from the Falcons with a five-point run before a pair of Herrod kills and a pair of SAU attack errors sealed the 25-16 set win and the 3-1 match win.

With the win, the Rams improve to 7-5 overall, 4-1 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play, and 1-1 in CIAA Southern Division play. The Rams will not have long to rest, however, as the team will return to action tomorrow to host Bluefield State in a 7:00 p.m. match. 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.