Wake Forest University
NC State
Wake Forest Shocks NC State With Three-Set Comeback
10/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF)
By Josh Gresh, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeVolleyball)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With the Wolfpack holding match point in 24-22 in the third set, the Wake Forest volleyball team stormed back winning three straight sets en route to shocking North Carolina State 3-2 on Friday night in front of a packed house in Reynolds Gym.
In front of 868 electrifying fans in Reynolds Gym, the Deacs put on an exhilarating performance to earn the victory in five sets. The Deacs improved to 12-5 overall and 2-1 in the ACC with a the comeback victory. NC State had their 12-match win streak snapped by the Deacons as the team falls to 12-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
Leading the way for the Demon Deacons, Jazmen Russell recorded a double-double with a match-high 23 kills and 10 digs. In addition to Russell, Matalee Reed notched 18 kills and Brianna Lynch also tallied double-digit kills with 13. Caroline Wolf had a match-high 28 digs to top off an outstanding performance as the libero.
The Wolfpack started off strong in the match taking an early 10-5 lead in the first set. Despite the Deacs keeping it close most of the set, NC State pulled out to a 24-19 lead and went on to win 25-20 in the first set to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The second set started off much like the first as the visitors used a 12-8 lead at the beginning to for Wake Forest to call a timeout. The Deacs did bring the set within one at 18-17, but the Wolfpack closed it out taking a 2-0 advantage in the match after a 25-22 second set victory.
After the intermission, the Deacons came out strong in the first taking a 13-8 lead. NC State brought it close with a 3-1 run to make it 14-11 and Wake Forest called for time. The Deacs continued to hold a slim lead until the Pack tied the set 20-20. The Wolfpack seemed to have the match for the taking after setting up match point with a 24-22 lead.
Undaunted, the Demon Deacons began their ferocious comeback. The home team used a 5-1 run to defeat the Wolfpack 27-25 in the third to force a fourth set.
The fourth set was tight early, but the Deacs were able to take a four point lead 12-8 forcing NC State to call for a timeout. The visitors were able to tie the set 14-14, but the momentum had changed hands as the Deacons pulled away for a 25-21 victory in the set to send the match to a fifth and final set.
Wake Forest was in danger of losing the match early in the fifth as NC State took an early 9-5 lead forcing the Deacs to call for time. Out of the timeout, the Demon Deacons reeled off three straight points cutting into the Wolfpack lead 9-8, and they had to call for a timeout.
The stoppage of play did not faze the Deacs as they used the momentum to complete their comeback as they took the final set 15-12 winning the match 3-2.
NOTES:
• The last time the Deacs came back from a 2-0 deficit was last season against Notre Dame on Oct. 4, 2013.
• It's the third straight year the Deacs have beaten NC State at home.
• With the win, Wake Forest improves to 2-1 in the first three matches of ACC play for the first time since 2010.
• Russell recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 23 kills and 10 digs.
• It's the second straight matchup against the Wolfpack that the teams have gone to five sets. The Deacs have won both of those last two matchups.
• Wolf recorded over 20 digs in a match for the fifth time this season and has recorded double-digit digs 14 of the team's 17 matches this season.
• The win snapped the NC State Wolfpack's 12-match win streak heading into the match.
• The packed house of 868 fans was the most in Reynolds Gym this season.
• Russell finished with double-digit kills for the 15th time in 16 games this season.
• Reed continues with a second-straight solid performance as she topped her season-high 17 kills last week with 18 tonight.
UP NEXT:
• The Demon Deacons hit the road to head to Atlanta on Sunday for a matchup against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at 1 p.m. for another ACC battle.
