Sports > September 18, 2008

By Donovan Carberry | Staff writer

Wake Forest volleyball won the Black & Gold challenge held Sept. 12 and 13, snapping a three-match losing streak. The tournament pitted the Deacons against Western Michigan, East Carolina and Delaware. Wake Forest’s first match was against Western Michigan, who came in having won two straight preseason tournaments. The Deacons won in five sets.

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Sophmore Lauren McIntyre serves the ball during the Black & Gold challenge on Sept. 12. The Lady Deacs defeated Western Michigan in the final set. (Andrew Christian/Old Gold & Black)

Wake Forest freshman Kadija Fornah had four straight kills followed by two Western Michigan service errors in the first set, which reversed an early 13-9 Bronco lead. This Wake Forest run was not enough as the Broncos managed to tie it at 20 and then start a five to two run to take the set 25-22.

The Deacons came out in control in the second set, quickly leading 8-2.

Graduate student Natalie Mullikin had seven kills in the set including a crucial one to stop a late run by Western Michigan and win the set 25-22.

In the third set, Wake once again led big early this time 15-9. Once the six-point lead had been established, the Deacons had little trouble finishing off the Broncos 25-20.

The Broncos reversed the pattern in the fourth set, taking an early 10-4 lead. Wake could not climb out of the hole and ended up losing the set 25-16.

The Deacons opened up with a 8-2 lead in the fifth and final set. With the help of sophomore Lauren McIntyre, who had three kills in four tries, Wake went on to win 15-8.

Wake Forest managed seven blocks against Western Michigan and Fornah had 13 kills, a personal record.

On Sept. 13 the Deacons then took on East Carolin,a who had a record of 8-2 prior to the meeting.

East Carolina took the lead in the first set, going ahead 10-7. McIntyre was able to spark a Deacon run with a kill and then a service ace that tied the score at 11.

McIntyre would later have two more kills, which helped push the score to 18-15. At that point, the Deacons were able to take command, going on a seven-to-zero run to win 25-15. McIntyre and sophomore Kristen White both had five kills in the set.

The Deacons opened the second set 11-6, thanks in part to several errors by the Pirates. Wake did not look back, going on to win the set 25-15.

ECU took a seven-to-five lead at the start of the third set. But within minutes Wake had gained the lead that they proceeded to extend, eventually winning 25-15.

Blocking, which has been a focus of the Deacons in practice for several weeks now, proved to be very effective against the Pirates.

Wake had eleven blocks in the match compared to ECU’s two.

The Deacon’s final game of the tournament was against Delaware.

The two teams opened with short runs cumulating in a 12-12 tie. At that point, Fornah scored two straight kills that then sparked a 13-4 run by the Deacons, leading to a 25-16 win.

After being down at the start of the second set, Wake was able to gain a 13-9 lead. Kills by Mullikin, White, Fornah and senior Ashley Homitz all helped.

Delaware responded with two service aces that led to a 12-3 Delaware run. The Blue Hens then held the lead 21-16.

Fornah broke the Delaware momentum with a kill that put freshman Cambrey Oehler on the service line.

Behind Oehler’s serving, the Deacons scored seven consecutive points.

The Blue Hens managed only one more point that set before a Delaware-ended error finished the game. The Deacons won 25-22.

The Deacons scored the first three points of the third set and never trailed. They put the set away 25-17.

The Deacons are now 6-3 having won two of their first three tournaments.

Wake Forest sophomore setter Kelsey Jones was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after putting up 127 assists and averaging better than two digs a set. Her impressive stats also led her to be named ACC Co-Player of the Week, a career first.

The Deacons will be back in action on Sept. 19 at the Appalachian State Tournament. They will play Appalachian State, Charlotte and North Carolina A&T. The tournament will end the non-conference portion of their schedule.