Oct. 10, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (4-14) stood up to the top team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Friday evening when the team hosted the defending MEAC Champion Florida A&M Lady Rattlers (5-9, 2-0 MEAC). The squad proved to be up the challenge battling hard for all three sets of the match, but were overpowered by a potent Florida A&M offense.
The Lady Rams battled the Lady Rattlers in all three sets, falling 25-18, 25-12, and 25-15. The Lady Rams put up a tough fight in the loss, recording 26 team kills in the match with only 14 attack errors. However, the squad was outgunned by a Lady Rattler squad that totaled 38 kills. WSSU senior Valentina Pushkina led the attack for the Lady Rams with seven kills while the duo of junior Annika Barnwell and sophomore Ashley Harris combined for six kills each in the loss.
The Lady Rams showed their fight early in the match holding the Lady Rattlers to a two-point, 16-18. The Lady Rams would allow three straight kills to the Lady Rattlers, followed by a WSSU attack error that left the team trailing, 17-22. A 3-1 FAMU run would end the set for the Lady Rams.
The second set was a much tougher one for the Lady Rams as the team saw an early lead turn into the biggest point deficit of the night. The Lady Rams jumped ahead 3-2 to open the set, but the Lady Rams would give up a 13-5 run to the Lady Rattlers and fall behind, 8-15. Florida A&M would go on to cruise to the 25-12 set victory.
Though the team continued to struggle early in the third set, the Lady Rams showed their mettle and fought their way back to keep the match going. The Lady Rams were outscored 3-1 to open the match, but fought their way back to tie the match 5-5. The Lady Rams soon found themselves struggling once again when Florida A&M mounted a 9-1 run that put the Lady Rams behind, 6-14. The Lady Rams continued to battle, but the deficit proved to be too much for the squad as the team ended the night with the 15-25 loss.
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The Lady Rams will not have long to rest as the team will head back on the road to face the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs in a Sunday match. For more information on Lady Rams volleyball, contact the WSSU Department of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2909 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.
