Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
North Carolina State
Wake Forest Earns ACC Sweep at NC State
9/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 30, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Wake Forest volleyball team earned its third ACC win in four tries, as the Demon Deacons swept NC State Saturday evening in Reynolds Coliseum. The Deacs defeated the Wolfpack 30-27, 30-28, 30-28.
With the win, the Demon Deacons move to 7-6 overall and 3-1 in the ACC. NC State drops to 2-12 overall and 0-5 in conference play.
Senior libero Natasha Schaefer had her second straight game with double-digit digs, totaling a season-best 18 against the Wolfpack. Schaefer tallied a then-season-best 17 in Wake's four-game win at North Carolina on Wednesday. Schaefer also had a season-high four aces against NC State.
Redshirt sophomore Natalie Mullikin led Wake in kills for the second consecutive match, registering 16 on the night. Mullikin also finished with three total blocks, including two block solos.
Redshirt sophomore Jessica Furlong recorded her fourth straight double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. Furlong now has eight double-doubles on the season.
Freshman Dylan Faulkner dished out 36 assists to go along with seven digs on the night.
Junior Jackie Lucas and sophomore Shannan Homan each notched a pair of block assists in the win.
Game one was tight through, as neither team led by more than three points. With NC State holding a late 26-25 lead, Wake Forest scored five of the last six points to take the contest 30-27. Two of the five points came courtesy of junior Michael Faulkner, one on a kill and one on a service ace.
In game two, the Demon Deacons had to come from behind for the win. With the Wolfpack holding a 15-10 lead midway through the set, Wake went on an 8-3 run to tie the game at 18-18.
The Deacs then scored five of the next seven points to take a three-point lead at 23-20. NC State erased that margin with a 7-4 run to tie it at 27-27. However, Wake took three of the last four points to win 30-28.
Game three was similar to the first set as the two teams traded leads throughout. The Wolfpack pulled away late to take a four-point lead at 23-19. The Deacons responded by scoring the next four points to tie the game.
Ten points later with the score tied 28-28, Wake Forest took the last two points of the game on a kill from Furlong and a NC State attacking error.
The victory was Wake Forest's 16th straight over NC State, dating back to the 1998 season. The Deacs have posted seven straight sweeps over the Wolfpack.
Wake Forest returns to action next weekend when it hosts Virginia Tech and Virginia. The Demon Deacons will entertain the Hokies on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Cavaliers Saturday at 6 p.m.
