Sports > September 29, 2005

By Ryan Durham

Assistant Sports Editor

The women’s volleyball team looked to continue their 6-0 winning streak as they traveled on the road for their first ACC games of the season. The Deacs unfortunately came back empty-handed.Wake Forest started off their weekend against Clemson University Sept. 22. The Deacs and the Tigers made a long drawn-out battle of the match by taking it all the way to five games keeping the first four games within a six-point difference.

The Deacs kept it close in the first game of their match. They tied the game eight times before the Tigers went on a 5-0 run that gave them a lead that Wake Forest could not overcome. The game ended 30-24.

Game two of the match was very similar to the first with six ties in the duration of play. It was Wake Forest that made two strong 3-0 runs to take the lead and the game 30-25.

The Deacs and Tigers battled it out in game three as well, topping the previous games by tying 15 times and changing the lead seven times. Wake Forest was able to pull out a 3-0 run at the end of the game to clinch a win 30-27. The next game played out almost exactly the same except this time it was Clemson who pulled out the win 30-27 and sending the match into game five.

In the final game of the match, Clemson quickly jumped out to an 11-2 lead and never looked back. The Deacs dropped the game and the match 15-8 breaking their six-game winning streak.

Freshman middle blocker Shannan Homan lead Wake Forest in hitting percentage with a .421 and 10 kills in the match. Junior outside hitter Lauren Peterson had 16 kills in the match, while junior defensive specialist Natasha Schaefer had 17 digs.

“I think the loss more than anything motivated us because we knew we were better than we played,” said Homan.

The Deacs continued their road trip Sept. 23 in Atlanta, where they faced Georgia Tech.Wake Forest jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in game one, but a 4-0 run by the Yellow Jackets tied the score at seven all. The Deacs gained back the lead at the 13-13 mark and maintained it for the remainder of the game, winning 30-25.

Game two started the same way, with Wake Forest jumping to a 7-3 lead and then Tech tying it back up. Unfortunately for the Deacs it did not go in their favor this time and they lost 30-27.

Wake Forest kept it close in game three, tying the score nine times before a 4-0 run put the Yellow Jackets in the lead. After this the Deacs were never able to get within three points, losing 30-25. In the fourth game, the score was tied 15 times and the lead changed a third of those times, but a 3-0 run gave Tech the lead and ultimately the win. They took the match with a 30-26 score.

“I thought we played well overall, said redshirt freshman outside hitter Jessica Furlong, “I think our blocking and our left back defense were a little off.”

Individually the team performed very well during the match. Senior setter Erin Borhart had her second triple-double of the season with 10 kills, 31 assists and 10 digs. Furlong had 13 kills on the night and senior middle blocker Christy Williams had a .444 hitting percentage and 10 kills.

“I’m excited about this weekend to be at home is great.” said head coach Heather Kahl, “UNC is always a big game and N.C. State is always a challenge.”

The Deacs (7-2, 0-2) return to action at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 against UNC.