WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Winston-Salem State University women's volleyball team (9-5, 5-2 CIAA) opened Day Two of the 2026 CIAA Round-Up with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-8, 25-12) victory over Lincoln (PA) before falling to Virginia State 3-2 (10-25, 25-10, 26-24, 18-25, 15-12) in a five-set battle inside C.E. Gaines Center.
GAME ONE | Winston-Salem State, 3 - Lincoln (PA), 0
WSSU opened the day with a straight-set victory over Lincoln (PA), hitting .455 in the second set while producing a nine-point scoring run. The Rams were led offensively by
Angelica Turnage with eight kills, while
Sarah Sanders and
Kamiyah Wilson added seven kills apiece.
SET 1 | After Lincoln (PA) built an 11-7 lead, the Rams answered with five straight points behind two kills from
Angelica Turnage and a service ace from
Jewel Pitt. After the Lions regained a 13-12 lead, WSSU used a six-point run on
Kamiyah Wilson's serve to take a 19-13 advantage. The Rams closed the set 25-20 on a
Skylar White block.
SET 2 | Lincoln (PA) scored the opening point before WSSU quickly took control. The Rams built a 14-7 lead behind kills from
Holiday Ellis,
Sarah Sanders and Turnage. Sanders then served WSSU through an eight-point run that featured three service aces, two Ellis kills and a Wilson kill, giving the Rams a 23-7 advantage. WSSU finished the set 25-8.
SET 3 | Zaria Keys opened the set with two service aces around a Sanders kill as the Rams jumped out to a 4-0 lead. WSSU continued to build its advantage behind kills from Wilson and
Tehani Moniz, along with blocks involving Turnage and
Zoe Chesson. Cuthbertson then served three aces during a run that pushed the Rams ahead 16-7 before Wilson added three kills to help WSSU close the match 25-12.
Top Performers vs. Lincoln (PA)
- Angelica Turnage: 8 kills, .353 hitting, 8.5 points, 1 block assist
- Sarah Sanders: 7 kills, .357 hitting, 3 service aces, 9 digs, 10 points
- Kamiyah Wilson: 7 kills, .500 hitting, 2 service aces, 7 digs, 9 points
- Kalyn Cuthbertson: 4 service aces, 14 digs, 5 assists
- Zaria Keys: 17 assists, 2 service aces, 3 digs
GAME TWO | Winston-Salem State, 2 - Virginia State, 3
The Rams closed Day Two with a five-set battle against Virginia State, falling 10-25, 25-10, 26-24, 18-25, 15-12. WSSU finished the match with 57 kills and 13 blocks, including nine total blocks from
Kamiyah Wilson.
SET 1 | WSSU overcame an early 3-1 deficit with six consecutive points, including three kills from
Holiday Ellis and two service aces from
Aria Caldwell. The Rams built a 16-7 advantage and later used another six-point run to take control before closing the set 25-10.
SET 2 | Virginia State responded by scoring the first four points and eventually built a 10-6 lead. WSSU battled back with points from Caldwell,
Celina Johnson and Turnage, but the Trojans used an eight-point run to pull away. Virginia State took the set 25-10 to even the match.
SET 3 | Virginia State opened with a 3-0 lead before WSSU rallied behind a Turnage kill to take a 6-5 advantage. The Rams then scored six straight points, including three kills from Sanders and a Wilson kill, to move ahead 13-7. WSSU led 19-12 before Virginia State rallied to tie the set at 20-20. Ellis tied the set at 24-24, but the Trojans scored the final two points to take the set 26-24.
SET 4 | Virginia State opened the fourth set with a 4-1 lead before WSSU battled back to tie the frame at 5-5. Caldwell's service run helped the Rams take a 9-7 advantage before Virginia State regained a 11-9 lead. WSSU responded with kills from
Zoe Chesson, Keys and Ellis to take a 12-11 lead. A Pitt service ace helped extend the advantage, and WSSU closed the set 25-18 on consecutive Virginia State attack errors to force a fifth set.
SET 5 | The Rams battled back from an early 3-1 deficit to tie the deciding set at 5-5 behind kills from Ellis, Wilson and Chesson. Virginia State regained control and built a 13-8 lead before WSSU responded with an Ellis kill, a Wilson block and an Ellis-Wilson combination block to cut the deficit to 13-11. After Virginia State reached match point at 14-11, Ellis added another kill, but the Trojans closed the set 15-12.
Top Performers vs. Virginia State
- Holiday Ellis: 16 kills, 13 digs, 17.5 points, 1 service ace
- Kamiyah Wilson: 9 total blocks, including 6 solo, 6 kills, 14.5 points, 1 service ace
- Aria Caldwell: 10 kills, 11 digs, 13 points, 2 service aces
- Zaria Keys: 36 assists, 11 digs, 4 kills
- Kalyn Cuthbertson: 26 digs, 4 assists, 1 service ace
Up Next
The Rams close out the 2026 CIAA Round-Up #1 on Sunday inside C.E. Gaines Center. WSSU will look to finish the weekend strong as the Rams continue conference play on their home court.
For more information on Winston-Salem State Athletics and its 12 varsity sports, visit wssurams.com.
