WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Winston-Salem State women's volleyball team (11-6, 7-3 CIAA) lost to Livingstone 3-1 on Thursday night, inside Whitaker Gymnasium.
The Rams scored the first two points on a
Kalyn Cuthbertson kill and a Livingstone error, but the opening set was even at 5-5 before kills by
Sarah Sanders,
Holiday Ellis and
Jewel Pitt helped WSSU move in front 10-7. Cuthbertson then served four straight points from 10-7 to 14-7, with kills by Ellis and
Kamiyah Wilson coming before consecutive Livingstone attack errors. Livingstone cut the margin to 16-14, and after the Rams reached 17-14, Livingstone scored seven straight points to move ahead 21-17.
Aria Caldwell and Sanders answered with kills to keep WSSU within 22-19, but Livingstone took the final three points to win the set 25-19.
The Rams built a 3-0 lead on an Ellis kill and two Livingstone errors before Livingstone pulled within 3-2.
Aria Caldwell's kill made it 4-2, and WSSU followed with four straight points on
Kamiyah Wilson's serve, including another Caldwell kill and a Sanders-
Zoe Chesson block, to move ahead 8-2. Livingstone worked back to 13-10 on kills by Oliwia Jaroszewicz and Mya Dalpiaz, but the Rams kept separation and reached 18-11 after Caldwell kill and a Livingstone setting error. Chesson,
Celina Johnson and Wilson added late kills to bring WSSU to set point, and Johnson teamed with Wilson on the closing block for a 25-16 set win.
After early ties at 1-1 and 3-3, Livingstone used kills by Mya Dalpiaz, Da'Maia Bryant and Oliwia Jaroszewicz to move in front 6-3. The Rams stayed close with kills by Chesson and Ellis and got within 8-7 on an Amaya Bowles attack error, but Livingstone kept answering and led 15-13 after another Bowles kill. Ellis scored at 15-14, Livingstone went back up 16-14, and Ellis followed with consecutive kills to tie the set at 16-16. Livingstone answered with four straight points to reach 20-16, and after WSSU cut it to 20-18, Livingstone scored five of the final six points to take the set 25-19.
The Rams moved in front 5-2 on a Wilson block and later used an Ellis kill and another Wilson block during
Jewel Pitt's serve to go ahead 11-8. Chesson and Caldwell combined on a block before Ellis put down a kill for a 16-12 lead, but Livingstone scored the next six points, including kills by Amaya Bowles and Destiny Drakeford, to move ahead 18-16. Chesson's kill and Caldwell-Chesson block kept WSSU within reach, but Livingstone pushed the margin to 23-19 behind Hailey Henriquez. The Rams answered from 24-20 with two Ellis kills and a Livingstone attack error to get within 24-23, before Justyce McKennie closed the set for Livingstone, 25-23.
Rams Top Performers
Holiday Ellis
----------------------
- 17.0 points
- team-high 16 kills
- 1 solo block
Kalyn Cuthbertson
----------------------
- team-high 19 digs
- 1 assist
Celina Johnson
----------------------
- team-high 21 assists
- 3 digs
- 2 kills
Kamiyah Wilson
----------------------
- 9.0 points
- 6 kills on .333 hitting
- 4 total blocks, including 2 solo
Aria Caldwell
----------------------
- 6 kills
- 11 digs
- 3 block assists
Up Next
The Rams travel to Bluefield, West Virginia, to face Bluefield State University on Monday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m., inside Ned Shott Gymnasium.
For more information on Winston-Salem State Athletics and its 12 varsity sports, visit wssurams.com.
