Sports > September 4, 2008

By Donovan Carberry | Staff writer

The Wake Forest volleyball team opened the season with three wins and a title after hosting the Deacon Invitation. It is the first time the Deacons have started 3-0 since 2004. The team’s well on its way to accomplishing its goals for the season.

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A member of the Deacon volleyball team serves during a recent match. The team won the Deacon Invitational and only dropped one set in three games. (Sophie Mullinax/Old Gold & Black)

“Winning three out of our four tournaments and finishing at least top five in the ACC is what we want to accomplish this season,” graduate student and tournament Most Valuable Player Natalie Mullikin said.

The Deacons began play Aug. 29 against Davidson. The Wildcats, who were picked to finish third in the South Division of the Southern Conference, were no challenge for the Deacons.

Davidson got off to a quick start with an 8-6 lead mid-way through the first set, thanks in part to a four-point serve by junior Kittery Veale. But the Deacons quickly responded and after a time out went on a 7-3 run and went on to win the first set 25-19.

Davidson was unable to pull in front for the remainder of the match. In the second set, the Deacons dominated, jumping out to an 11-3 lead and going on to win 25-11. The third set was equally one-sided with Wake winning 25-13.

Sophomore Kristen White and Mullikin lead the way for the Deacons against Davidson. Both White and Mullikin had double-digit kills in the sweep, 15 and 12 respectively.

Next up for the Deacs was Norfolk State, who would also fall in straight sets.

The Deacons started strong against the sluggish Spartans. In the opening minutes White had four kills and fellow sophomore Lauren McIntyre had two. Wake went ahead 14-3 in part due to four straight errors. Norfolk never recovered, losing the set 25-11.

In the second set the Spartans scored only three kills and committed 11 errors. The Deacons were quick to capitalize; Mullikin started the set by serving for seven consecutive points. The Deacons went on to win 25-8.

The last set was the closest. Wake was leading only 8-7 when back-to-back kills by Deacon freshman Carlin Salmon sparked an 8-3 run eventually allowing the Demon Deacons to close out the match with a 25-17.

The championship game pitted the Lady Deacs against the Winthrop Eagles. Winthrop would prove to be the Deacs’ toughest challenge yet.

Wake led 4-3 in a competitive first set until McIntyre scored back-to-back kills which set up a 13-6 run. The Eagles weren’t done; they responded with a 8-4 run to bring the score to 21-17. It proved too little too late, the Deacons scored the next four straight points, which included another kill from McIntyre and then a kill from freshman Kadija Fronah.

Wake continued the steak begun at the end of the first set; they opened the second set 12-0. Sophomore Megan Thornberry served 11 of those points. The Demon Deacons then went on to win 25-12.

In the third set Winthrop came back to challenge the Deacons. At one point the Eagles were up 15-10 then the Deacs cut their lead to one. But with the score 18-17 Eagles sophomore Kaley Viola scored two kills to help the Winthrop win the set 25-22.

The third set would be the only set the Deacons lost all tournament. They opened the fourth set 14-4 and forced Winthrop to commit 12 hitting errors. The Deacons captured the title with a 25-16 victory in the fourth set.

Both Mullikin and Thornberry were named to the all-tournament team.

“The best thing was how well we played as a team,” Mullikin said. “It’s a different experience right off the bat when we play like that.”

The Deacons now look to the Adidas Classic on Sept. 5 and 6, hosted by Indiana University where they will face Louisville, Indiana and Valparaiso.

Wake Forest will face tougher competition in Bloomington, but the team isn’t intimidated.

“It is exciting to be able to up against some good teams and have the possibility of an upset,” Mullikin said.

The tournament will be a homecoming of sorts for the Deacons as three of the girls are from central Indiana.

There are 10 members of the Deacon squad from the Midwest.