(RALEIGH, NC)- A lack of rhythm seemed to be the name of the game at Spaulding Gymnasium tonight for both Shaw and Winston-Salem State as the Lady Rams topped the Lady Bears 3-0. 

This marked the second time this season that Winston-Salem State (8-10, 8-4 CIAA) defeated former head coach – and current Shaw Head Coach – Douglas Hunter.  The loss puts the Lady Bears at 3-11, 3-10 CIAA.

Aside from the three game sweep (25-19, 25-22, 25-18), the Lady Bears continued to improve and gel as a team.

In each of the three games, the Lady Bears were evenly matched with the Lady Rams, but in the stretch of each game WSSU would reel off a small service run, which proved to be the difference.

Shaw was mainly led by Sharetta Riggins who had 15 kills for .219 percent and five digs. Many of her most impressive spikes came at critical junctures and stopped Lady Ram scoring runs.

On the stats sheet though, WSSU outmuscled the Lady Bears by holding a 42 to 24 advantage in kills, five to two advantage in service aces, and a 36 to 21 advantage on assists.

Despite Hunter's 0-2 start against his former team, the Lady Bears have had a dramatic improvement from their first game of the season. Shaw has four remaining games left on their 2010 schedule, all of which are conference games.

Shaw's next game is October 8 at Johnson C. Smith at 6 p.m.  The Lady Bears next home game is October 20 at 6 p.m. against Livingstone.

[Photo:  Jeneva Carner gets low for a return of serve during Shaw's loss to WSSU.]