The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (0-2) continued their early struggles to open the season as the team suffered a 3-0 loss to the host Virginia Tech Hokies on day two of the Hawthorn Suites Hokie Invitational. The Lady Rams’ defense struggled mightily in the match allowing the Hokies to have a .556 team hitting percentage in the match, the Lady Rams’ first meeting with a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The WSSU offense could not match the Hokie defense as the Lady Rams posted a -.203 hitting percentage for the match. Making matters worse for the Lady Rams were the team’s 10 receiving errors in the match. WSSU sophomore hitter Ashley Harris led the way for the Lady Rams with four kills in the match while junior hitter Lore McBroom finished the match with three kills.

As a team, the Lady Rams managed 10 digs in the match with senior Valentina Pushkina leading the team’s efforts with three digs.

The Lady Rams won’t have long to wait to make up for the loss as the team will take on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks in a non-conference match up during the consolation match of the tournament. The Hokies will face the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the championship match.