Nov. 21, 2008

SPARTANBURG, SC - The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (3-25) will be looking for a big finish to the 2008 season when the team takes part in the Mr. Gatti's Provisional Tournament. The tournament will be a great measuring stick for all six teams as it will feature programs that are making the transition to NCAA Division I. The Lady Rams will join the University of North Florida, Presbyterian College, North Carolina Central University, the University of Central Arkansas, and host USC-Upstate in the tournament.

The tournament will feature two days of play with the six-team pool competing in Pool Play on the first day with seeded single-elimination play on the second day. The Lady Rams will open the tournament taking on Central Arkansas in an 11:00 a.m. match-up for the first meeting between the two squads since making the move NCAA Division I. On paper, the Lady Rams will have a tough challenge ahead of them in the opening match as the Sugar Bears have amassed an impressive 20-7 overall record this season with wins over Mississippi State, Idaho State, and Stephen F. Austin to their record. The team is currently averaging a blistering 13.7 kills per set this season.

Though the challenge is daunting for the Lady Rams, the squad is well-rested as the squad has played in just two matches over the past two weeks. The Lady Rams have used that time to improve upon a 5.4 kills per set average for the season. WSSU freshman setter Asia Carr will be a key part of the Lady Rams' offensive efforts as she is most likely to handle setting duties for the Lady Rams as fellow freshman setter Alexandria Brown has been sidelined by injury. The WSSU tandem of junior hitter Annika Barnwell and sophomore hitter Ashley Harris will need to impressive as well. The two players have combined for 311 of the team's 661 team kills this season.

In the team's second match of the season, the Lady Rams take on the host USC-Upstate Spartans in a 3:00 p.m. match-up. This season, the Spartans have amassed an 8-21 record this season with a 4-16 record in Atlantic Sun play. As a team, the Spartans average 11.4 kills per set and will also give the Lady Rams a challenge. Last season, the Lady Rams took a pair of losses to the Spartans in Winston-Salem and in Spartanburg. The Lady Rams will get a chance to avenge both losses in this weekend's tournament.

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.