Box Score
SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone volleyball team couldn't break through against the Winston-Salem State Rams Wednesday evening as the Blue Bears fell 3-0 (17-25, 26-28, 21-25) in a crucial southern division contest.
The first set was close in the early going as Winston-Salem clung to a slim 9-8 advantage. The Rams were able to increase their lead to 15-10 but the Blue Bears battled back to get back within 18-16, but couldn't get any closer. Winston-Salem took seven of the last eight points of the first set to take the opening stanza 25-18, despite the Blue Bears hitting .400.
Winston-Salem jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead early in the second set, but the Blue Bears rallied to grab an 11-8 edge. Livingstone battled to hold its edge throughout the rest of the set and led 22-20. Trailing by two, the Rams took four of the next five points to grab a set point at 24-23. Livingstone rebounded to take a set point at 25-24, but couldn't convert. With the score tied at 26-26, the Rams took the final two points to take the second set 28-26.
Livingstone took the early lead in the third set, but couldn't keep its momentum going. After a 3-0 lead for the Blue Bears, the Rams took the next five points to go up 5-3 and didn't relinquish the lead for the rest of the third set. The Rams took the third set 25-21 and the match 3-0.
Lashaundra Ferguson led the Blue Bears with 16 kills while Michelle Thompson added 11. Shannon Allen led the team with 24 assists and 11 digs.
The Blue Bears finished with 33 kills and a .221 hitting percentage with 28 assists, four service aces, 30 digs and three team blocks. The Rams finished with 43 kills and a .242 hitting percentage with 32 assists, seven service aces, 27 digs and three team blocks.
With the loss, the Blue Bears fell to 10-11 overall, 6-8 in the conference and 2-5 in the division while Winston-Salem improved to 10-12 overall, 10-5 in the conference and 4-4 in the southern division.
The Blue Bears will return to action on Friday at North Greenville College in Tigerville, SC at 6 p.m.
