Sports > October 25, 2007

By L.K. Davey | Staff writer

The women’s volleyball team had a rough weekend with back-to-back losses against UVA and Virginia Tech at home. It was not a disappointing weekend for the whole team however, as junior Natalie Mullikin tied the 21-year-old Wake Forest career block solos record Oct. 20. Mullikin finished with one block solo to tie Jenny Kraner (1984-86) for the school record with 87 block solos apiece.

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Redshirt junior Natalie Mullikin goes up for a block against the University of Virginia Oct. 19. The Deacs lost the game, three matches to one, putting the Deacs at an ACC record of 4-8. (Roscoe Bratton/Old Gold & Black)

The Lebanon, Ind., native entered the season with 64 career block solos and now has added 23 more in 21 matches this year.

The Demon Deacons were defeated in four games by Virginia Oct. 19.

The Cavaliers took down the Deacs 30-28, 31-29, 19-30, 30-24. Spotlight Deacons included Mullikin who had eight total blocks on the night and a match-high 16 kills.

Freshmen Kelsey Jones and Kristen White turned in double-doubles for the Deacons.

Jones dished out 38 assists and tallied 12 digs for her eighth straight double-double and ninth in her last 10 matches.

White posted 13 kills and 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. White also had three aces in the match.

Sophomore Abby Miller led Wake Forest with 16 digs, while freshman Megan Thornberry was right behind with 14.

Senior Michael Faulkner joined the duo in double-figure digs with 11.

Faulkner also had eight kills and four blocks on the night.

Junior Ashley Homitz came off the bench to record five total blocks, including a pair of block solos.

Freshman Lauren McIntyre had six total blocks including five block assists for Wake Forest.

The Lady Deacons battled it out against the Virginia Tech Hokies Oct. 21.

The Hokies prevailed over the Deacons in four games, scoring 30-27, 30-15, 18-30, 30-23.

The match with Virginia Tech was held on Wake Forest’s second annual “Dig for the Cure” which benefitted the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.

The Demon Deacon volleyball team solicited donations from sponsors to either pledge money per dig recorded by Wake Forest or make a flat donation to the cause.

This year, the Deacs finished with 67 total digs, led by Thornberry’s match-high 19.

Other notable Deacons included Faulkner and Miller who also turned in double-figure digs, adding to the cause with 14 and 13 respectively.

Faulkner also turned in three aces in the match.

Jones, however, saw her string of eight straight double-doubles come to an end. Jones finished the evening with 37 assists and five digs. Mullikin led Wake Forest with a match-high 17 kills. She also added five total blocks and an ace. Homitz posted a career-best 10 kills for the Deacons. Homitz hit .348 for the match with two errors in 23 attempts. White was also in double-digits for kills with 10. McIntyre chipped in seven kills and three block assists. The Lady Deacons have now lost five straight matches, all of which have been four-game setbacks. Their record is now at 7-14 overall and 4-8 in the ACC. Wake Forest hits the road next weekend for a pair of matches up north at Maryland and Boston College. The Deacs will face the Terps 7 p.m. Oct. 26 and the Eagles 1 p.m Oct. 28.