Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Hosts Florida State and Miami
11/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 1, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest returns to action this weekend with home matches against Florida State and Miami. The Demon Deacons are set to host the Seminoles on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Hurricanes on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The Deacons are ready to put the month of October behind them and start fresh in November. An injury-plagued Wake Forest squad went just 1-8 last month after entering October in the top four of the ACC standings.
Wake enters November trying to overcome its sudden rash of injuries and finish the season on a high note. With a record of 7-16 overall and 4-10 in the ACC, the Deacons are tied with Miami for 10th in the conference.
The largest bright spots thus far have been Natalie Mullikin's assault on the school record books and the emergence of Wake's four freshmen.
Mullikin set the Wake Forest career block solos record last Sunday at Boston College. With 88 career block solos, Mullikin surpassed Jenny Kraner's (1984-86) 21-year-old record. Mullikin also ranks in the top four on Wake Forest's career lists for total blocks, block assists and blocks per game.
The junior from Lebanon, Ind. ranks among the conference leaders in a number of categories. Mullikin is sixth in kills (3.86 per game), sixth in points (4.70 per game), seventh in hitting percentage (.319) and ninth in blocks (1.24 per game).
With all of the Deacons' injuries, freshmen Kelsey Jones, Lauren McIntyre, Megan Thornberry and Kristen White have seen extensive action in their first season on campus.
Jones, McIntyre and Thornberry rank among the ACC statistical leaders. Jones is seventh in assists with 10.44 per game, Thornberry is eighth in digs with 4.13 per game and McIntyre is 10th in blocks with 1.19 per game.
White, who is averaging 2.43 kills and 1.86 digs per game, has posted five double-doubles for the Deacons this season.
As a team, Wake Forest ranks fifth in the conference in both blocks per game (2.60) and digs per game (16.72).
The Deacs split their two matches at Florida State and Miami earlier this season. Wake swept Miami on Sept. 28 and then fell in five games to the Seminoles two days later. The defeat of the Hurricanes was the Deacons' first victory in the state of Florida since 2003.
Florida State enters the weekend 11-11 overall and 8-6 in the ACC. The `Noles have won five straight matches, dating back to Oct. 19. Last weekend, FSU earned home wins over Virginia Tech and Virginia. Florida State is 3-7 on the road this season, including a 3-4 mark in conference play.
The Seminoles hold an 18-5 all-time advantage against the Deacs. FSU has won each of the past four matches, but Wake has taken two of the last three played in Winston-Salem.
Miami, who is set to play at Duke on Friday evening, comes in at 10-13 overall and 4-10 in the ACC. The Hurricanes have dropped three of its last four and nine of its last 11 matches. However, Miami is coming off a five-game defeat of Virginia Tech last weekend in Coral Gables.
Wake Forest and Miami have met six times previously with the Hurricanes holding a 4-2 all-time advantage. Miami swept last season's meetings with Wake, earning a pair of four-game wins. The series is tied 1-1 at Reynolds Gymnasium.
Tickets for each of this weekend's matches will be $2 for the general public. The Deacons will hold an autograph session following Friday's match with FSU.
Wake Forest will hit the road next weekend, traveling to Clemson and Georgia Tech. The Deacs will take on the Tigers on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. before facing the Yellow Jackets the following evening at 8 p.m.
