Sports > November 3, 2005

By Ryan Durham

Assistant Sports Editor

The volleyball team had another amazing performance this weekend and won their first two matches during the second round of ACC play.

Wake Forest started their weekend against Clemson University Oct. 28.

The Deacs were in control for most of the first match, though the Tigers kept the game close until the 19-21 mark. Wake Forest managed an 11-2 run that gave them the win with a score of 30-23. The rampage was helped by junior outside hitter Lauren Peterson, who had five kills.

The Deacons looked even stronger in game two of the match. The game was close until the nine-all mark when Wake Forest went on a 6-1 sprint that put them up 15-10. With another 5-0 run and 4-0 run, the Deacons had sealed the game 30-22.

Game three was very close, with the score tied 15 times. The Tigers managed to pull out the win though with a three-point push at the very end to take the game 30-27 and forcing a fourth.

The Deacs took a big lead fast in game four and never looked back. Wake Forest quickly moved out to a 12-3 start.

They only allowed Clemson to score a total of eight points in the game and won by the largest margin in the ACC play this year 30-8.

“We showed determination and stepped up during the fourth game which enabled us to quickly attack Clemson and gain the momentum back to our side,” said junior right side hitter Jenna Doane.

Peterson led the attack with 23 kills and was followed closely by redshirt freshman outside hitter Jessica Furlong who had 22 kills in the game. Furlong also led the team defensively with 24 digs. Junior defensive specialist Natasha Schaefer helped the team out with 23 digs of her own.

The Deacons as a whole managed 13 blocks on the night. And Wake Forest was ready to continue their winning Oct. 29 against Georgia Tech.

The early points of game one kept the two teams fairly close with the Yellow Jackets controlling until the 13-12 point. The Deacons then managed a 7-2 run on Georgia Tech, pulling the score to 20-14. Wake Forest did not let up, extending their six-point lead to 10 and won the game 30-20.

The second game of the match took a much slower pace with 16 score ties and eight lead changes. The Ramblin’ Wreck managed to get the win though after scoring two points, ending the game 30-28.

Game three was very similar to the first, with the Deacons taking the lead after the 11-all mark and not letting up. A 5-0 run at the end of the game achieved the win for the team by a margin of 30-21.

The fourth game of the match would prove to be one of the best the Deacons have had this season.

They started off the match down 10-2, but rallied back to tie the score at 15, with a 5-0 run and a 4-0 run.

The team took their new-found strength and ran with it. A 6-1 run by the Deacons finished off the Yellow Jackets 30-25.

“The team looked great and I was really happy to see them come back from being down 10-2 against Georgia Tech,” Head Coach Heather Kahl said,

Furlong led Wake Forest both offensively and defensively in the match with 17 kills and 14 digs, giving her a second double-double on the weekend.

Peterson, senior middle blocker Christy Williams and redshirt freshman middle blocker Natalie Mullikin were not far behind Furlong with 13, 14 and 12 kills respectively.

“This weekend was a really good confidence-builder for us,” Furlong said. “We played as a team every game of every match and we never gave up.

Defensively the Deacons had three other players with double digit digs, Schaefer, senior defensive specialist Klarysa Henry, and Doane all who had 10, 13 and 12 kills respectively.

Wake Forest is now 13-9 on the season and 6-7 in the ACC. They will face N.C. State Nov. 4 in Raleigh and UNC-Chapel Hill Nov. 6 in Chapel Hill.