Wake Forest University
Virginia*
Deacs Take 3-0 Sweep Over Virginia
10/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 26, 2003
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.-- The Wake Forest volleyball team won its second match in as many days at Reynolds Gymnasium with a 3-0 sweep of the Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon. After taking three straight games from Florida State on Saturday evening, the Demon Deacons came back just as strong on Sunday, improving to 7-4 in the ACC and 17-6 overall. The Cavaliers saw their record fall to 20-6 overall and 4-6 in the conference. Two of Virginia's six losses this season have been handed to them by Wake Forest. The Deacs also knocked off a 16-0 Virginia team on September 26th in Charlottesville.
Jessica Hauff hit a team-high .421, had ten kills and five total blocks to lead the way for Wake Forest. Valerie Rydberg contributed with 15 kills and five service aces while Kim Stern shattered her previous career-high for digs, coming up with 19 in Sunday's match against Virginia. The Cavaliers were led by Paige Davis who hit .316 with 14 kills.
Head coach Valorie Baker liked what she saw from her team with two consecutive sweeps against ACC opponents this weekend.
"I was very pleased with our performance in both matches this weekend. Lauren Peterson came in and made some crucial serves late which gave us some energy for a great comeback in that third game," said Baker.
Game one was a hard-fought battle which Wake Forest came back to win, 30-26. Trailing 21-16, the Demon Deacons put together a streak of six consecutive points during the serve of Christy Williams, taking advantage of four Virginia attack errors. This gave Wake Forest a 22-21 lead. Virginia came back to tie the score at 24, but a Rydberg kill and service ace on consecutive points gave the Deacs the lead for good.
The Demon Deacons hit .303 in the second game and cruised to a 30-24 victory. Virginia led at 13-12, but Wake Forest took a 16-13 lead during the serve of Natasha Schaefer and never looked back. Game three went down to the wire, but the Deacs came out 31-29 winners. It looked as if the Cavaliers might get on the board, leading 29-28 late in the game. But two consecutive kills by Rydberg gave Wake Forest match point, and an attack error by Virginia's Alexis Geocaris ended Virginia's comeback attempt.
The Demon Deacons return to action when they host North Carolina A&T at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night in Reynolds Gymnasium.
