Sports > October 16, 2008

By Donovan Carberry | Staff writer

The volleyball team struggled on the road against Clemson and Georgia Tech. The Deacons lost to both ACC opponents in straight sets Oct. 10-11. The Lady Deacons were 13-4 going into the weekend. Had they made it 14-4 they would have been the only team in school history to have won 14 out of the first 18 games.

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Instead, for the fourth time in Wake Forest history the team went from 13-4 to 13-5.

The team faced Clemson first, playing in Jervey Gym on Oct. 10.

In the first set, the team fell into a hole they could not climb out of, going down 7-1. Despite a Deacon run that brought them within one, the Tigers remained strong. They went on to win 25-19.

The Tigers ran out ahead again in the second set, leading by as much as 9-0. Thirteen errors and only seven kills committed by the Deacons prevented them from making any real run. The Tigers won the set 25-10.

The Deacons regained composure. They led the third set 8-6 behind kills from sophomore Kristen White, graduate student Natalie Mullikin and two from freshman Kadija Fornah.

Despite a 7-0 run from Clemson to make the score 19-9 Tigers, the Deacons hung in it. The Deacons cut the score to two before a kill by Clemson sophomore Lia Procter ended the game with a final score 25-22.

Oct. 11 Wake faced off against Georgia Tech who entered the match 4-3 in ACC play.

In the first set, Georgia Tech came out strong, quickly pushing the lead to 22-12. Kills from Mullikin and sophomore Lauren McIntyre brought the Deacons closer but not close enough. The Deacons lost the set 25-19. Georgia Tech opened up the second set strong as well, leading 11-7. Mullikin stole the Yellow Jacket momentum with a kill and then two consecutive blocks. The effort turned into an 11-1 run for the Deacons who then led 18-12.

Despite strong play by Tech it looked like Wake, who had a 23-18 advantage, was poised to win.

However, two straight kills by the Yellow Jackets followed by two straight attack errors from White let Georgia Tech back in.

Another kill by the Jackets and another error by Wake finished off the Deacons. Georgia Tech won 26-23.

The close play that closed the second set continued into the third. After several minutes Georgia Tech was up 20-18 with as great a lead as either team had managed in the set so far.

After a kill by Mullikin closed the gap to one the Jackets pulled away. They won 25-20.

It was not all for naught as the team’s blocking, a point of emphasis through out the year, continued to improve. Mullikin alone had five blocks.

Mullikin set the Wake Forest record for total blocks in a career in the loss to Georgia Tech. She has 473 blocks on the year with 13 contests still remaining in the regular season.

She is also only 29 block assists away from setting that record as well.

The Deacons see action again when they travel to Virginia Tech on Oct. 17 and then finish their four game road stand at Virginia the following day.

The Deacons will then return home to play ACC rival Boston College.