Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Virginia Tech
Demon Deacons Drop Five-Game Match at Virginia Tech
11/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 18, 2006
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest dropped below .500 for the first time in over two months, as Virginia Tech nipped the Demon Deacons in five games Saturday evening at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies defeated the Deacs 30-18, 30-32, 30-18, 24-30, 15-13.
The loss drops the Deacons to 14-15 overall, putting Wake below the .500 mark for the first time since it was 4-5 on Sept. 16. The Deacs also fall to 10-10 in ACC play. Wake Forest has lost four of its last five and eight of 11 matches, dating back to Oct. 20. Virginia Tech improves to 16-13 overall and 10-10 in the conference.
Sophomore Jessica Furlong and freshman Dylan Faulkner turned in double-doubles to lead the Deacs. Furlong tied senior Lauren Peterson for the team high in kills with 13. Furlong also recorded 14 digs in the match.
Faulkner dished out 42 assists and had 10 digs to tally her 12th double-double of the year and third in the last four matches.
Junior Jackie Lucas registered 10 total blocks, including eight block assists. Sophomore Natalie Mullikin chipped in five total blocks, including a pair of block solos, while Peterson finished the night with four block assists.
Senior libero Natasha Schaefer led Wake Forest with 20 digs, while freshman Sara Uniacke tallied a season-high 15 digs. Uniacke's previous best was nine digs, set last weekend at Maryland.
Senior Jenna Doane was also in double digits for digs with 10.
After Virginia Tech opened the match by cruising to a 30-18 game-one victory, Wake Forest was able to squeak out a win in a tight game two. Trailing 24-21 late in the contest, the Demon Deacons used a 6-2 run to re-take the lead at 27-26.
The two teams traded points until Wake was able to put the game away, finishing the Hokies off with a block from Lucas and freshman Kate Rodriguez.
Game three was almost a carbon copy of game one, as Virginia Tech built a big lead and held on for an identical 30-18 outcome.
The Deacs re-gained some momentum in game four, jumping out to a 17-9 lead. The Hokies came back to within two at 25-23, but Wake closed the game on a 5-1 run to win 30-24.
Wake Forest used the momentum to take early control of game five, as the Deacons got out to a 5-1 lead. However, Virginia Tech rallied with a 5-1 run of its own to tie the game at 6-6.
Virginia Tech took its first lead of the game, 8-7, just before the change of sides. The Hokies opened up an 11-9 margin, but it was Wake's turn to come back as the Deacs recovered to take a 13-12 lead.
However, the last three points belonged to Virginia Tech. The Hokies got back-to-back kills from Taylor Parrish to erase the lead and earn match point. The home squad then put the contest away with a finishing block from Allie Kupec and Michelle Lang.
With the loss, Wake Forest failed to sweep the season series from Virginia Tech. It was the third time this year that the Demon Deacons have had the chance to sweep the season series from an opponent and not done so.
The Deacons are 5-4 in five-game matches this season.
Wake Forest returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 21, when it hosts Florida State at 7 p.m. The Demon Deacons will wrap up their season the following evening, hosting Miami at 7 p.m.
