RALEIGH, N.C.  - The Shaw University volleyball team built a lead in the first set, but could not hold on, and dropped three straight sets to visiting Winston-Salem State in a match played at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium Monday night.

WSSU took the sets 25-19, 25-18 and 25-19.  With the loss, Shaw drops to 7-5 overall, 3-2 in the CIAA.  The Lady Rams earned their first win of the season against 14 losses.  They stand 1-5 in the conference.

Shaw took a 10-3 lead on a serving run by Michelle Oliver, but Winston-Salem broke back, riding a hot serving hand from Avoni Seymour and critical key kills by De Ann Smith, finally building a 20-16 lead before Shaw scored a point on a kill by Shaye Walton.  The Lady Rams closed out the set on a 5-2 run to give them the 25-19 victory.

WSSU broke on top early in the second set, but Shaw clawed their way back into the game, building a 15-13 lead off a Walton serve.  The Lady Rams then reeled off ten straight points on Smith's service, including four aces, to build a lead they would not relinquish before finishing off the set 25-18.

The third set belonged to the Lady Rams from the start as they built an early lead, then kept Shaw from reeling off any long scoring runs, finishing with a 25-19 set and match win.

Crystal Gordon led the Lady Bears with ten kills.  Sashane Watson had seven digs and added six kills of her own.  Courtnee Kelly paced Shaw with 16 assists and Oliver had three service aces. 

Smith finished the match with 14 kills and five aces to lead the Lady Rams. Katie McDaniels had nine digs, and Kayla Brass had 29 assists to top WSSU.

Shaw returns to action Thursday, September 27 when they host division rival Livingstone at 6:00 p.m. in C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the Shaw campus.  The game is free and open to the public.

For more information on Shaw athletics, visit www.shawbears.com.