WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Winston-Salem State University women's volleyball team (8-4, 4-1 CIAA) opened the 2026 CIAA Round-Up #1 on Friday with a pair of victories inside C.E. Gaines Center, defeating Elizabeth City State 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-22) before earning a 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-19) win over Shaw.
The Rams finished the opening day of the CIAA Round-Up #1 with a 2-0 record, hosted by Winston-Salem State University.
GAME ONE | Winston-Salem State, 3 - Elizabeth City State, 0
WSSU opened the day with a straight-set victory over Elizabeth City State, finishing with 42 kills and a .235 hitting percentage while holding the Vikings to 36 kills and a .175 hitting percentage.
SET 1 | The Rams created separation with a four-point service run from
Zaria Keys, moving from 12-8 to 16-8 behind three service aces and an ECSU attack error. WSSU maintained its advantage to secure a 25-19 victory.
SET 2 | The Rams erased a 14-10 deficit with four straight points on
Holiday Ellis' serve to tie the set at 14-14. After the Vikings tied the set at 20-20, WSSU scored five of the final six points, including kills from Ellis and a service ace from Keys, to take the set 25-21.
SET 3 | Elizabeth City State built an 18-12 lead before WSSU rallied to tie the set at 20-20 on a
Zoe Chesson block. After falling behind 22-21, the Rams scored the final four points, including a Wilson block and a combined block from
Aria Caldwell and Wilson, to complete the 25-22 victory.
Top Performers vs. Elizabeth City State
- Holiday Ellis: 15 kills, 13 digs, 16 points, 1 service ace
- Zaria Keys: 34 assists, 5 service aces, 6 digs, 7.5 points
- Angelica Turnage: 12 kills, 12.5 points, 4 digs, 1 block assist
- Kamiyah Wilson: 5 kills, 3 total blocks, 1 service ace, 8 points
GAME TWO | Winston-Salem State, 3 - Shaw, 1
The Rams closed the opening day of the CIAA Round-Up #1 with a four-set victory over Shaw, hitting .202 with 44 kills and 12 blocks while holding the Bears to a -.052 hitting percentage.
SET 1 | WSSU overcame an early 6-1 deficit with seven straight points to take an 8-6 lead. The Rams later pulled even at 23-23, but SU scored the final two points to take the opening set 25-23.
SET 2 | The Rams took control early, turning a 6-4 lead into a 12-4 advantage with a six-point run that included five straight points on
Aria Caldwell's serve. WSSU closed the set 25-14 behind three kills from Ellis during the run and late kills from
Angelica Turnage and
Sarah Sanders.
SET 3 | WSSU opened the third set with four straight points and continued to build its advantage behind kills from
Kamiyah Wilson,
Sarah Sanders and
Zoe Chesson. The Rams closed the set 25-16 to take a 2-1 match lead.
SET 4 | After the Lady Bears moved in front 14-10, the Rams responded with seven consecutive points to take a 17-14 lead.
Zaria Keys served for the final six points of the run as WSSU maintained control and finished the match with a 25-19 victory.
Top Performers vs. Shaw
- Holiday Ellis: 15 kills, 15 points, 8 digs
- Zoe Chesson: 7 kills, .333 hitting, 6 total blocks, 11 points
- Kamiyah Wilson: 5 kills, 6 total blocks, 9.5 points, 5 digs
- Zaria Keys: 20 assists, 10 digs, 1 block
Up Next
The Rams continue play Saturday on Day 2 of the 2026 CIAA Round-Up #1 taking on Lincoln (PA) at 1 p.m., before finishing the day off against Virginia State at 5 p.m., inside C.E. Gaines Center.
For more information on Winston-Salem State Athletics and its 12 varsity sports, visit wssurams.com.
