Sports > September 25, 2008

By Tori Stewart | Contributing writer

The Lady Deacons ended a successful weekend matched against Appalachian State, Charlotte and North Carolina A&T Sept. 19-20. Going undefeated in the Appalachian State Invitational, the women’s volleyball team won its Sept. 19 match and a double-header on Sept. 20 to improve tis record to 9-3.

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The women’s volleyball team huddles up before a recent home game. (Andrew Christian/Old Gold & Black)

In their first match against Appalachian State, the Deacons struggled in the first set.

With a 10-3 run by Appalachian State, Wake had a tough time fighting its way back into the match.

The Deacs’ 14 kills were not enough to clinch the set, and the Mountaineers took the first set 25-18.

However, Wake came back to win the next three sets 25-23, 26-24 and 25-21, respectively.

In the second set, with four errors by the opposition and kills from graduate student Natalie Mullikin, freshman Cambrey Oehler and sophomore Kristen White, Wake got off to a quick start with a 7-0 lead.

Despite all the kills the game was tied at 22 after five attack errors by the Deacs and an 8-2 run by Appalachian State. Blocks by Mullikin, White and Homitz ended the set 25-23 in Wake’s favor.

The third set was fairly close throughout, with the score disparity never exceeding six points. With 13 kills and eight errors, Wake won the set 26-24 with back-to-back kills by sophomore Lauren McIntyre.

Although never trailing the Deacs by more than four points, the Mountaineers fell in the fourth set 25-21, sealing the match for the Demon Deacons.

The match recorded double-doubles for White and sophomore Kelsey Jones. In her second double-double of the season, White recorded season-highs of 18 kills and 17 digs.

Jones, in her fifth double-double of the season, had 48 assists and tied her career-high with 19 digs. Junior Abby Miller contributed 25 of the team’s 102 digs for the match.

Charlotte was the Deacons’ first opponent on Sept. 20. Wake dominated the first two sets, winning easily 25-14 and 25-18.

The third set was closely contested as the score disparity was never more than five points. However, the advantage went to Charlotte as the Deacs could not pull through, falling 25-22. The Demon Deacons returned in the fourth set to reverse the last set’s score in their favor, winning 25-22.

Jones led the team with 17 digs and 41 assists. White and freshman Kadija Fornah contributed 12 and 11 kills, respectively, and Mullikin and Homitz each added 10. Ending the weekend with North Carolina A&T, Wake continued its excellent play to propel itself to a three set victory.

In the lead the entire match, the Demon Deacons rallied behind Mullikin and White, both of whom sparked double-digit runs on the court to put Wake ahead. All 15 members of Wake’s team saw playing time in the match.

“We all get along very well and can play with each other so easily,” Oehler said. “It is awesome because new people can substitute in and the flow of our game doesn’t get disrupted.”

Sophomore Megan Thornberry led the Deacs with 23 digs. Jones fired 33 assists, 13 of which were to Mullikin and 10 of which were to freshman Carlin Salmon. This win is the Deac’s eighth straight and improves the ladies’ record to 9-3. The weekend’s performances earned Mullikin and Homitz spots on the All-Tournament team. Homitz was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, recording 18 kills, seven assists, five digs and five total blocks.

Next up for the Deacs is the beginning of the ACC season.

“We are remaining focused on one match at a time,” Oehler said. “We have been playing really great at home so we have a goal to win a large majority of our home matches.”

Wake hosts ACC opponents Florida State Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. and Miami Sept. 26 also at 7 p.m. in Reynolds Gym.