Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Set to Travel to Western Kentucky Tournament
9/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2011
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After hosting the Deacon Invitational over its first weekend of play, the Wake Forest volleyball team will travel to Bowling Green, Ky., to take part in the Western Kentucky Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Friday and Saturday.
The Demon Deacons will have three tough tests, as each opponent is over .500 early in the year. Wake will begin play against LSU (6-1) on Friday at 11 a.m. before playing host Western Kentucky (6-1) later that evening at 8 p.m. The Deacs will then wrap up play against Xavier (4-2) on Saturday at 12 p.m. All times are eastern standard time.
Wake Forest enters the weekend with a 2-2 record after defeating Charleston Southern and North Florida and falling to Arkansas and Georgetown.
Senior middle blocker Carlin Salon led the way for Wake Forest throughout the Deacon Invitational, as she was named to the All-Tournament Team. In four matches, Salmon collected 36 kills and hit .314 while recording an outstanding 25 blocks.
Salmon did the majority of her blocking work against Charleston Southern, shattering her career-best performance with 14 total blocks. Twelve of those blocks were block assists, which was just one way from tying the Wake Forest school record. Her previous career-high was eight.
Her counterpart in the middle, sophomore Kristin Grissom, also performed well at the net with 31 kills, a .312 hitting percentage and 18 blocks. She recorded five total blocks in her first three matches of the season, as she was in the starting lineup for the first time of her career.
The Demon Deacons also looked heavily to senior outside hitter Kadija Fornah who tallied 33 kills and led the team with 41 digs. She recorded 16 digs in two separate matches, tying a career high.
Similar to last weekend, Wake Forest will be facing teams in which it is not very familiar. The Demon Deacons have played LSU and Western Kentucky just one time apiece, losing in both instances, and has never played Xavier.
The Deacs last played LSU on September 9, 2006 and last played WKU on November 7, 1986.
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 home matches throughout the year will be free.
