RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 27) - In recent years, a first-set loss usually meant defeat for the Saint Augustine's University (SAU) volleyball team.

Not this time.

Despite dropping the first set, the Lady Falcons recovered to beat Winston-Salem State 3-1 (8-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-23) Monday in Winston-Salem, N.C., to remain unbeaten in CIAA play. Picked to finish last in the conference, the Lady Falcons are CIAA Southern Division co-leaders at 2-0 after putting together their first two-match win streak since 2018.

They also ended a 10-match losing streak against WSSU.

SAU (2-0 CIAA Southern Division, 2-5 overall) proved their three-set win over Johnson C. Smith last week was no fluke.

It didn't start that way. The Lady Falcons trailed 12-1 to the Rams before falling 25-8 in the first set.

"The first set I was a little bit worried, but we got the jitters out of the way and came back strong." SAU Head Coach Tacara Moxey said. "I am so proud of our ladies for sticking together. Each set they got better and better. I am overly excited."

The tide turned once the Lady Falcons settled down. They asserted themselves and took charge of the next three sets.

"I just knew we were off," SAU middle hitter Madison Jones (Fr./Durham, NC) said. "We were not playing like ourselves. I think we were nervous. We got those nerves out the first set and came back strong in the second set."

Once the Lady Falcons started rolling, WSSU couldn't stop them. The Rams struggled with the Lady Falcons' serves and SAU's middle hitters and blockers.

Leading 20-15 in the fourth set, the Lady Falcons were on their way to winning the match but had to fend off a late rally by the Rams, who pulled within 24-23. After an SAU timeout, Jones put the match away with a kill, much to the chagrin of the WSSU fans.

"The timeout we took gave us a chance to settle down," said SAU outside hitter Tionna Graham (Jr./Portmore, Jamaica).

The significance of the win is huge, according to Graham.

"It says we are working as a team, and we can do much more," Graham said. "It feels really good."

The Lady Falcons posted three victories combined in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The 2020 season was canceled after the CIAA opted out of competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, SAU already has two victories in seven matches. Its sight is set on winning many more.

SAU libero Janina Mayers (Sr./Christ Church, Barbados) is enjoying the team's recent success. She was a member of the 2019 squad that finished the season winless.

"This feels really good because we have been putting in the work," Mayers said.

The Lady Falcons return to Winston-Salem, N.C., this weekend for the CIAA Round-Up I. They will compete in three cross divisional matches on Saturday, Oct. 2, and Sunday, Oct. 3.