Sports > October 26, 2005

By Ryan Durham

Assistant Sports Editor

The volleyball team has returned to their winning ways, defeating Florida State Oct. 21 and University of Miami Oct. 22.

Against FSU, the Deacons looked strong throughout the entire game and never let the Seminoles take a moment to rest or regroup.

In the first game of the match, Wake Forest took the lead at the 3-3 mark with a 5-0 run and never looked back.

Miami rallied to within one point, but the Deacons quickly pulled away and won the match with a score of 30-26.

Wake Forest held the lead for the first half of game two, but Florida State was able to tie the score at the 13-13 mark, then jump ahead to match point with the score standing at 29-26. The Deacons did not let up, however, and rallied back with a 5-0 run that snatched the victory away from Florida State.

The Deacons’ 5-0 rally was achieved with the help of four blocks at the net, with senior middle blocker Christy Williams being a party to all four. This helped Wake Forest ultimately win the game 31-29.

“We practiced all week on blocking and really prepared for Florida State’s attack,” Williams said. “We were just really fired up about it.”

Florida State got off to an early lead in the third game of the match, but a 5-0 run by the Deacons gave them a slight lead. The Seminoles tied the game at the 16-16 mark thanks to two short rallies, and the two teams traded points until the 18-all mark. Wake Forest proceeded to go on a 6-0 run that they would not give up the rest of the game. They handily won the game 30-24, and the match 3-0.

“It was probably one of the best matches we have had this season,” Head Coach Heather Kahl said. “I was very happy with the outcome.”

Williams had a career night with her 10 block assists, and also recorded nine kills in the match. Offensively, the team was lead by red-shirt freshman Jessica Furlong, who had 13 kills and eight digs during the night. Junior outside hitter Lauren Peterson and red-shirt freshman middle blocker Natalie Mullikin were not far behind her, though, each recording 12 kills. One of the main keys to the Deacs’ victory was their 18 blocks in the game compared to a mere eight from Florida State.

Wake Forest finished their last game of the first round of ACC play Oct. 22 against the University of Miami. Volleyball teams play two rounds of ACC games, giving each team home-court advantage while being able to play an ACC foe twice. Miami jumped out quickly in the first game of the match, but a 10-1 run at the 5-7 mark put the Deacons up 15-8. Wake Forest never let up, and Miami was not able to get within seven points of the team for the rest of the game. The Deacons ultimately won the game 30-18.

The Hurricanes kept close to Wake Forest, trading point-for-point until the 15-15 mark in game two. The Deacons put up a 3-0 run at this point, and Miami was never able to catch up. Wake Forest finally won 30-27.

The Deacons had hopes of sweeping the Hurricanes, but Miami had different ideas for game three. They gained the lead early and never gave it back, winning 30-26, thereby propelling the match into a fourth game.

The score was close until the 19-19 mark, when Miami went on an 8-1 run that ended the Deacons’ hopes of winning the match, the final score ending at 30-23.

The loss sent the teams into the fifth and deciding match, which proved to be one that would continue the intensity of past games. Wake Forest reached the match point first, but two points from the Miami side forced the game past 15. However, the Deacons were able to recover quickly, thus winning the game 17-15 and the match 3-2.

Mullikin, Furlong and Williams were once again the offensive leaders of the team with 16, 15 and 14 kills respectively. Defensively the team was lead by junior defensive specialist Natasha Schaefer who had 24 digs during the night.

“It was one of the first times the team really came together this season,” Schaefer said. “We finally played as a team from start until finish.”

The Deacons begin the second round of ACC play against Clemson at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 and Georgia Tech at 6 p.m. Oct. 29 in Reynolds Gym. The Deacons are now 11-9 overall and 4-7 in the ACC.