Sports > October 2, 2008

By Allison Lange | Sports editor

The Wake Forest women’s volleyball team had a good start to the ACC season this past week, losing one game to Florida State and winning two against Miami and Duke.

The women hosted the Florida State Seminoles Sept. 25 and were led by sophomores Kelsey Jones and Kristen White, both of whom posted double-doubles.

Florida State beat the Deacs in a close set of five matches, winning the final game by only three points, 15-12.

Offensively, Wake Forest dominated in both the first and third sets, with 14 and 17 kills, respectively.

White led the Deacons in attacking against Florida State, with 16 kills.

Wake setter Jones had a total of 52 assists in the five game match.

Sophomore Megan Thornberry led Wake Forest defensively, tallying 19 digs.

The next day, the volleyball team hosted another ACC opponent in the Miami Hurricanes. Coming into the match against the Deacons, Miami was unbeaten, 13-0 and 2-0 in ACC play.

A rebounded team from the night before, the Deacons swept the Hurricanes in three sets, 25-19, 25-22 and 25-21.

For her second night in a row, Jones led the team and had an outstanding game, recording her eighth double-double of the season.

Jones dished out 36 assists as setter against the Hurricanes. She also added 10 digs and three blocks, including the first solo block this year.

She connected with senior Natalie Mullikin for 15 kills, White for 11 and freshman Kadija Fornah for 10.

On the defensive end, Thornberry and junior Abby Miller both contributed a lot of digs, with 19 and 12, respectively.

The Deacon’s impressive victory dropped Miami to 13-1 this season and 2-1 in the ACC.

Next, the women hosted ACC rival Duke Sept. 30. The Blue Devils were 10-4 overall and 1-1 in the ACC coming into the match.

The game against Duke went to a tense five games, with Duke on top of the ACC in hitting percentage (.288).

However, the Deacon’s game was dominated mostly by defensive play, as the women held the Blue Devils to hitting .108.

Five Wake Forest players tallied digs in the double digits, with Thornberry leading the team with 26.

Mullikin and White led the Deacs offensively, with 17 and 16 kills, respectively.

They connected with Jones, who contributed 45 assists to the team.

The fifth game and tiebreaker was a thriller, ending 17-15 in favor of the Deacs.

Wake Forest ended the first week of ACC action 11-4 overall and 2-1 in the ACC, leaving the Deacons in fourth in the ACC standings.

Next, the Deacons look to more ACC opponents in state.

The team will host N.C. State Oct.3 at 7 p.m. and UNC-Chapel Hill Oct. 4 at 6 p.m.