Sports > November 9, 2005

Ryan Durham

Assistant Sports Editor

The volleyball team attempted to extend their winning streak to seven games this weekend, but fell short losing to UNC-Chapel Hill Nov. 6 after beating N.C. State Nov. 4.

The team started off their weekend Nov. 4 in Cary facing the Wolfpack of N.C. State.

The Demon Deacons jumped out to a quick lead in the first game of the match, going up 9-5. After this point, the Wolfpack only got within three points once the rest of the game mainly due to a 5-0 run by the Deacs, helping them seal the win 33-22.

Game two followed a similar path to game one with Wake Forest jumping out to a 14-4 lead off of a 9-0 run. The Deacons managed to keep this lead and ended the game with a 5-0 run, winning 30-15.

The Wolfpack once again struggled starting up in game three, with Wake Forest at one time holding a nine point lead. N.C. State attempted to rally late in the game, but it was to no avail as the Deacons took the game 30-24 and the match 3-0.

“It’s great as a team to know that we can stay focused an entire match like that and just really follow the gameplan the entire match,” senior setter Erin Borhart said.

Wake Forest was lead offensively by junior outside hitter Lauren Petersen and redshirt freshman middle blocker Natalie Mullikin, who had 13 and 8 kills respectively. Borhart also added to the Deacons’ attack with 34 assists on the night.

Wake Forest next traveled to Chapel Hill Nov. 6 to face UNC.

The first game of the match was a hard fought one for the Deacs. The score was tied 10 times throughout the course of the game, but Wake Forest managed to hold on each time and pulled out the first game with a score of 30-28.

Game two of the match was close until a 6-0 run by the Tarheels at the 23-21 point gave them their needed advantage, and they took the game 30-22.

The third game of the match was very similar to game one with the score close all the way until the end. The Deacs managed to hold off a UNC rally at the end and took the match 30-28.

Wake Forest struggled in game four of the series with UNC quickly jumping ahead by six points. After this, the Deacs never managed to build momentum in the game and fell 30-19 sending the match into its fifth and final game.

UNC came out with a five point lead, but Wake Forest managed to rally and brought the game within one at the 9-8 mark. They were not able to overtake the Tarheels though and lost the game 15-12.

“We fought hard against them and in the end it just didn’t come out for us,” senior defensive specialist Klarysa Henry said.

Despite the loss, the Deacons played an excellent game with redshirt freshman outside hitter Jessica Furlong recording 21 kills and Mullikin recording 18.

Defensively Henry lead Wake Forest with 22 digs and was followed closely by Borhart and Furlong who had 19 a piece. This gives Furlong her third double-double in the last four games.

The Deacons return to action Nov. 11 and 12 at home to face Boston College and Maryland and round out the week with a game Nov. 15 at home against Duke.

“Its going to be exciting,” head coach Heather Kahl said. “It’s anyone’s match on any given day. It’s just whichever team shows up.”