Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Xavier
Wake Forest Battles Xavier in 3-1 Setback
9/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2011
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF) 
| Season Stats
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Senior Kadija Fornah recorded her second double-double of the season with 16 kills and 13 digs, but the Wake Forest volleyball team dropped a 3-1 match to Xavier on Saturday at the Western Kentucky Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Musketeers improve to 6-3 with the win, while Wake Forest is now 2-5 this season. Xavier took the match 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18.
After recording her double-double, Fornah was named to the All-Tournament Team. In three matches, she led the Demon Deacons with 30 kills and was second on the team with 30 digs.
Freshman setter Danae Rosendall also turned in a double-double performance, the first of her career, with 35 assists and 10 digs.
Senior Carlin Salmon and freshmen Dani Thompson and Jazmen Russell also had productive days for Wake Forest. Salmon tallied 12 kills, Thompson recorded a season-best 16 digs and Russell had a nice all-around match with nine kills, seven digs and an ace.
Like the Deacons, Xavier also had a pair of players reach the double-figure kill mark, as Sarah Brown and Alex Blair had 17 kills and 13 kills, respectively, to lead the way.
Set 1 was a game of runs, as both teams had stretches of dominance. Xavier started the match strong and went up 8-3 right away. Wake Forest answered, though with six in a row of its own to take its first lead of the set at 9-8. Russell's aggressive jump serve kept the Musketeers out of system during the run, and she also recorded an ace to tie the set at 8-8. A kill by Fornah gave the Deacs their 9-8 lead.
WFU and XU remained close, and Wake Forest remained on top as late as 13-12. Xavier went on a 6-0 run of its own at that point to take an 18-13 lead. The Deacs chipped away at the lead and came within two at 22-20, but the Musketeers got back-to-back kills followed by a triple block in the middle to close out Set 1.
Wake Forest was down early in Set 2 but held a 10-7 lead nearly midway through the set. After Xavier rallied for three straight, the teams traded side outs for eight straight points before the Musketeers were finally able to score two in a row and take a 15-14 advantage.
A Xavier service error made the set 15-15, but the Musketeers went on a 6-2 run to take a 21-17 lead. Wake Forest cut the lead to two points on a few different occasions, but a comeback effort was too late, as XU claimed the second set 25-22.
The Demon Deacons scored the first point of Set 3 on a kill by Fornah and never trailed. Xavier needed three straight points to tie the set at 7-7, but the Deacs developed a huge cushion behind the serving of Cambrey Oehler and scored eight straight points to go up 15-7. The Musketeers did go on a 5-1 run later in the set to make the score 22-19, but Wake was able to take the set 25-21.
As was the case in Sets 2 and 3, Xavier and Wake Forest were tight at the onset of Set 4. The Musketeers held a slim 10-9 lead, but they went on a 10-3 run, including seven straight points, to take control and eventually end the match.
Wake Forest will begin conference play when Duke comes to town on Friday at 7 p.m. to begin the Black & Gold Challenge. The Demon Deacons and the Blue Devils will be competing in the first-ever televised volleyball match in Reynolds Gym. The Deacs will then play either Charlotte or High Point on Saturday at 5 p.m. Admission to all matches of the Black & Gold Challenge will be free to all spectators.
