BLUEFIELD, WVA. – The Winston-Salem State University women's tennis team picked up its first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) win during the round-up while concluding the weekend going 2-3.

The Rams earned victories over Bowie State (4-0) and Virginia Union (4-0). WSSU battled hard against Virginia State but ultimately fell 4-2 as well as fell to Elizabeth City 4-1 and dropped the last match to host Bluefield 4-0.
WSSU moves to 2-6 (2-5 CIAA) on the season.

Rams Fall to Virginia State, 4-2, in CIAA Roundup Opener
The Winston-Salem State University women's tennis team opened CIAA Roundup play with a hard-fought 4-2 loss to Virginia State on March 21 at Pinecrest High School in Bluefield, Va.
WSSU battled throughout the match, highlighted by strong performances in singles play, but the Trojans secured the early momentum by sweeping doubles competition and held on for the team victory.
Doubles
Virginia State jumped out to a 1-0 lead after sweeping all three doubles matches:

• #1 Doubles: Mckinley Battle / Iyana Nickens (WSSU) fell to Sky Carter / Nyla Terrell (VSU), 6-1
• #2 Doubles: Mikayla Stewart / Kyla Burns (WSSU) fell to Makensie Pago / J-na Hereford (VSU), 6-2
• #3 Doubles: Briana Drew / Dezaire Black-Macon (WSSU) fell to Damita Bollers / Alexcie Burrows (VSU), 6-2

Singles
The Rams responded in singles play with two strong victories at the top of the lineup:

• #1 Singles: Mckinley Battle (WSSU) def. J-na Hereford (VSU), 6-1, 2-6, 7-6
• #2 Singles: Mikayla Stewart (WSSU) def. Sky Carter (VSU), 1-6, 6-2, 7-6

Virginia State secured the match with wins in the remaining courts:

• #3 Singles: Makensie Pago (VSU) def. Kyla Burns (WSSU), 6-0, 6-1
• #4 Singles: Damita Bollers (VSU) def. Iyana Nickens (WSSU), 6-1, 6-1
• #5 Singles: Briana Drew (WSSU) vs. Alexcie Burrows (VSU) – unfinished
• #6 Singles: Taryn Toomer (VSU) def. Iyana Barber (WSSU), 6-0, 6-1

Rams Sweep Bowie State, 4-0, at CIAA Roundup
The Winston-Salem State University women's tennis team bounced back in dominant fashion with a 4-0 victory over Bowie State during CIAA Roundup play.
Doubles
WSSU took early command by winning two of the three doubles matches to secure the opening point:

• #2 Doubles: Kyla Burns / Mikayla Stewart (WSSU) def. Verneice Herndon / Asia Johnson (Bowie State), 6-1
• #3 Doubles: Briana Drew / Dezaire Black-Macon (WSSU) def. Mil'lanni Marte / Daisy Pentorn (Bowie State), 6-0
• #1 Doubles: Mckinley Battle / Iyana Nickens (WSSU) vs. Nakari Blunt / Payton Swinton – unfinished

Singles
The Rams continued their momentum into singles play, winning every completed court to clinch the match:

• #1 Singles: Mckinley Battle (WSSU) def. Nakari Blunt (Bowie State), 6-0, 6-0
• #2 Singles: Mikayla Stewart (WSSU) def. Verneice Herndon (Bowie State), 6-0, 6-0
• #3 Singles: Kyla Burns (WSSU) def. Asia Johnson (Bowie State), 6-0, 6-0

The remaining courts were either unfinished or in progress when the match was decided:

• #4 Singles: Briana Drew (WSSU) leading Payton Swinton – unfinished
• #5 Singles: Iyana Nickens (WSSU) – unfinished
• #6 Singles: Iyana Barber (WSSU) – unfinished

Rams Shut Out Virginia Union, 4-0
The Rams controlled the match from the outset, securing the doubles point and carrying that momentum into singles play to clinch the shutout victory.
Doubles
WSSU took an early 1-0 lead by sweeping all three doubles matches:

• #1 Doubles: Mckinley Battle / Iyana Nickens (WSSU) def. B. Velinov / M. Hill (Virginia Union), 6-0
• #2 Doubles: Kyla Burns / Mikayla Stewart (WSSU) def. A. Sanjog / B. Finlay (Virginia Union), 6-1
• #3 Doubles: Briana Drew / Dezaire Black-Macon (WSSU) def. M. Mercer / M. Brooks (Virginia Union), 6-0

Singles
The Rams continued their strong play in singles, winning every completed match in straight sets:

• #1 Singles: Mckinley Battle (WSSU) def. A. Sanjog (Virginia Union), 6-0, 6-0
• #2 Singles: Mikayla Stewart (WSSU) def. B. Finlay (Virginia Union), 6-0, 6-0
• #3 Singles: Briana Drew (WSSU) def. M. Hill (Virginia Union), 6-4, 6-3

With the match decided, remaining courts were left unfinished:

• #4 Singles: Kyla Burns (WSSU) vs. B. Velinov – unfinished
• #5 Singles: Iyana Nickens (WSSU) vs. M. Mercer – unfinished
• #6 Singles: Iyana Barber (WSSU) vs. M. Brooks – unfinished

 
WSSU 1, ECSU 4
Doubles Results

1. Battle/Nickens (WSSU) def. Reigner/Nathira (ECSU), 6-2
2. K. Lopez/M. Marley (ECSU) def. Burns/Stewart (WSSU), 6-2
3. Miah/Kennedy (ECSU) def. Drew/Black-Macon (WSSU), 7-5

Singles Results

1. Maya Battle (WSSU) def. Lopez (ECSU), 7-6, 3-6, 10-2
2. Reigner (ECSU) def. Mya Stewart (WSSU), 6-4, 0-6, 10-6
3. Nathira (ECSU) def. Kaila Burns (WSSU), 6-3, 6-1
4. Marley (ECSU) def. Imani Nickens (WSSU), 6-3, 6-1
5. Miah (ECSU) def. Brianna Drew (WSSU), 4-6, 6-4, 2-4 (unfinished)
6. Kennedy (ECSU) def. Barber (WSSU), 6-4, 3-2 (unfinished)

 
Bluefield State 4, WSSU 0
In the final match of the roundup, WSSU dropped a 4-0 decision to Bluefield State, with the Big Blue using strong doubles play and depth in singles to secure the win.
Doubles
Bluefield State took control early by winning the doubles point:

• #1 Doubles: Battle / Nickens (WSSU) fell 6-2
• #2 Doubles: Burns / Stewart (WSSU) fell 6-1
• #3 Doubles: Drew / Black-Macon (WSSU) – unfinished

 
Singles
Bluefield State clinched the match with wins in singles play:

• #1 Singles: Battle (WSSU) fell to E. Ozmen, 3-6, 6-7
• #2 Singles: Stewart (WSSU) fell to A. Felipe, 3-6, 2-6
• #6 Singles: Iyana Barber (WSSU) fell to I. Disibio, 1-6, 0-6

Other matches were in progress when the match was decided:

• #3 Singles: Burns – unfinished
• #4 Singles: Nickens – unfinished
• #5 Singles: Drew – unfinished

 
WSSU will be back in action on Saturday, March 28 hosting Johnson C. Smith at Hanes Park in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Match is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.