PETERSBURG, VA — The Winston-Salem State University women's volleyball team (14-10, 10-7 CIAA) competed in the second and third days of the 2026 CIAA Round-Up #2 on Saturday and Sunday, earning a 3-0 victory over Bowie State University before falling to Virginia State University 3-0 on Saturday. The Rams bounced back Sunday with a 3-0 sweep of Lincoln University (Pa.) and a 3-1 victory over Virginia Union University.
GAME ONE | Winston-Salem State, 3 - Bowie State, 0
WSSU opened Saturday with a straight-set victory over Bowie State, winning 25-21, 25-21 and 25-20. The Rams recorded 36 kills and hit .128 while holding the Bulldogs to a .000 hitting percentage. WSSU also finished with a 12-5 advantage in total blocks.
SET 1 | The Rams broke a 20-20 tie late in the opening set with kills from Kamiyah Wilson and Sarah Sanders. Holiday Ellis followed with a kill to finish the set 25-21. Celina Johnson assisted on all three kills as WSSU scored five of the final six points to take the opening set.
SET 2 | WSSU responded to an early deficit by winning seven of eight rallies to build a 7-2 lead. Bowie State later tied the set at 17-17, but the Rams answered from an 18-18 tie with four consecutive points, including a Wilson block and an Aria Caldwell kill, to move ahead 22-18. Wilson finished the set with a kill from Johnson to secure another 25-21 victory.
SET 3 | The Rams created separation after building a 16-9 advantage, scoring six consecutive points to extend the lead to 22-9. Wilson and Ellis opened the run with kills before Wilson served through five straight points. Earlier, Ellis served four consecutive points as WSSU extended its lead from 6-3 to 10-3. Bowie State made a late push, scoring five straight points to cut the deficit to 24-20, but Sanders finished the match with a kill from Johnson for the 25-20 win.
Top Performers vs. Bowie State
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Holiday Ellis: 12 kills, 14 digs, 3 blocks, 14.5 points
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Kalyn Cuthbertson: 16 digs, 2 assists
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Zoe Chesson: 5 kills, 6 total blocks, including 3 solo, 9.5 points
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Celina Johnson: 29 assists, 7 digs, 2 service aces
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Sarah Sanders: 8 kills, 1 solo block, 9 points
GAME TWO | Virginia State, 3 - Winston-Salem State, 0
The Rams returned to the court Saturday against host Virginia State, falling in straight sets, 25-19, 25-14 and 25-19. WSSU finished with 28 kills and a .110 hitting percentage, while the Trojans recorded 45 kills and hit .220.
SET 1 | WSSU battled back from early deficits to tie the set at 9-9 behind a Jewel Pitt service ace and a Wilson kill. Wilson later added a block to even the score at 16-16, and Caldwell's kill tied the set again at 17-17. Virginia State responded with four consecutive points to take a 21-17 lead. The Rams added late kills from Wilson and Chesson, but the Trojans closed the set 25-19.
SET 2 | The teams traded points through a 10-10 tie, with kills from Chesson, Ellis and Caldwell helping WSSU remain within reach. Virginia State gained control after the tie and limited the Rams to four additional points. Caldwell added a kill to make it 20-14, but the Trojans scored the final five points to take the set 25-14.
SET 3 | After falling behind 17-11, the Rams mounted a rally behind a Chesson kill and four consecutive points during Tiffany Blakely's service turn. Blakely recorded a service ace, while Chesson added another kill as WSSU pulled within 17-16. Virginia State answered with five straight points to regain control. Ellis contributed late kills for the Rams, but the Trojans closed the set 25-19 to complete the sweep.
Top Performers vs. Virginia State
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Holiday Ellis: 8 kills, 10 digs, 1 block assist, 8.5 points
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Celina Johnson: 12 assists, 14 digs
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Zoe Chesson: 6 kills, .385 hitting percentage, 1 solo block, 7 points
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Kalyn Cuthbertson: 11 digs, 2 assists
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Kamiyah Wilson: 4 kills, 4 digs, 3 total blocks, including 1 solo
GAME THREE | Winston-Salem State, 3 - Lincoln (Pa.), 0
WSSU opened Sunday's action with a dominant 3-0 sweep of Lincoln (Pa.), winning 25-6, 25-15 and 25-13. The Rams finished with 39 kills and a .349 hitting percentage while limiting the Lions to 16 kills and a -.034 hitting percentage.
SET 1 | The Rams broke open the opening set after a 3-3 tie, scoring eight consecutive points to take an 11-3 lead. Sanders contributed two kills, while Chesson added a service ace during the run. After Lincoln (Pa.) pulled within 16-6, WSSU scored the final nine points of the set, with Pitt serving the final eight points and Ellis closing the set with a kill for the 25-6 victory.
SET 2 | The Rams built their advantage throughout the set before pulling away late, winning seven of the final eight rallies from an 18-14 lead. Johnson recorded a service ace to give WSSU an 11-10 advantage, while Tehani Moniz and Chesson added kills during the stretch. Johnson closed the set with a kill from Kalyn Cuthbertson to secure the 25-15 win.
SET 3 | WSSU created separation late, winning seven of eight rallies to move from a 17-10 lead to a 24-11 advantage. Blakely served through four consecutive points, including back-to-back service aces, while Sanders added kills during the run. White followed with a block and a kill to put the Rams at set point. Johnson then finished the match with a kill from Pitt for the 25-13 victory.
Top Performers vs. Lincoln (Pa.)
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Sarah Sanders: 11 kills, .526 hitting percentage, 11 points
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Zoe Chesson: 8 kills, .636 hitting percentage, 1 service ace, 1 solo block
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Celina Johnson: 24 assists, 6 digs, 3 kills, 1 service ace
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Kalyn Cuthbertson: 13 digs, 5 assists
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Holiday Ellis: 7 kills, 2 service aces, 6 digs, 9 points
GAME FOUR | Winston-Salem State, 3 - Virginia Union, 1
The Rams closed the weekend with a 3-1 victory over Virginia Union, rallying after dropping the opening set 25-20 to win the next three, 25-15, 31-29 and 25-21. WSSU used a strong finish in the second set and a late rally in the third to take control before closing out the match in four sets.
SET 1 | Virginia Union built a 21-14 advantage before the Rams began to rally. Cuthbertson served through four consecutive points to pull WSSU within 21-18. Johnson contributed a kill and teamed with Chesson on a block, while Chesson added another kill from Johnson. Virginia Union held off the rally to close the set 25-20.
SET 2 | WSSU responded with a strong finish, scoring six consecutive points to close out the set. Ellis recorded a kill to give the Rams a 20-15 advantage before serving the final five points. Chesson added a kill during the closing stretch, while Virginia Union errors helped WSSU secure the 25-15 victory and even the match.
SET 3 | The Rams battled through a tightly contested set, with back-to-back Ellis kills from Zaria Keys helping WSSU establish a 23-20 lead. Virginia Union responded to extend the set beyond 25 points, but Sanders recorded a kill to tie the score at 29-29. Two consecutive Virginia Union attack errors gave the Rams the final points and a 31-29 set victory.
SET 4 | WSSU gained early momentum as Keys served the Rams through the first four points, including two Ellis kills. After Virginia Union moved ahead 16-15, the Rams won five of the next six rallies to take a 20-17 lead, with Sanders supplying three kills during the stretch. WSSU maintained its advantage and finished the match on an Ellis service ace for a 25-21 victory.
Top Performers vs. Virginia Union
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Holiday Ellis: 22 kills, 21 digs, 23 points, 1 service ace
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Zaria Keys: 35 assists, 7 digs, 1 block assist
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Zoe Chesson: 9 kills, .375 hitting percentage, 5 total blocks, including 1 solo, 2 service aces, 14 points
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Sarah Sanders: 13 kills, 7 digs, 2 total blocks, including 1 solo, 14.5 points
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Kalyn Cuthbertson: 18 digs
UP NEXT
The Rams travel to Orangeburg, South Carolina, to face Claflin University on Thursday, Oct. 22. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
For more information on Winston-Salem State Athletics and its 12 varsity sports, visit wssurams.com.
