Wake Forest University
Oklahoma
Wake Forest Falls to Oklahoma, 3-0
9/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF) 
By Josh Gresh, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeVolleyball)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest volleyball team was defeated by the Oklahoma Sooners 3-0 at Reynolds Gym in non-conference action on Thursday night.
Brianna Lynch led the way with 10 kills, Jazmen Russell had nine and a block assist and Matalee Reed added eight kills and a block assist, but it wasn't enough to earn the Demon Deacons a victory.
Wake Forest falls to 8-3 overall with the loss, heading into the Deacon Classic this weekend. Oklahoma improves to 9-2 overall as they continue their weekend in North Carolina as they face the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels this weekend.
"It was what we expected from a great team like the Sooners", said Wake Forest head volleyball coach Ken Murczek. "We played well against them in the first set, but this match was a true test of what is to come in ACC play this season. This is what we have to expect going into our ACC opener against Virginia Tech."
Kimmy Gardiner led the way for the Sooners as she recorded a match-high 16 kills and added three service aces. Two other Sooners recorded double-digit kills as Kierra Holst had 14 and Marion Hazelwood added 11.
The first set would prove to be a battle as both teams exchanged leads multiple times in the set. The Demon Deacons held an early 3-2 lead in the set after Reed recorded the first kill of the match for the Deacs. Oklahoma would retake the lead 5-3 but Wake Forest answered with a 4-0 run, which included a third point kill from Ashlee Rusk, to take a 7-5 lead.
The Deacs held on to the lead until the Sooners took it back 12-11. Wake Forest took the lead again 16-15, and hold it until 17-16, but a 2-0 run by Oklahoma made it 18-17 and coach Murczek called a timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Deacs retook the lead again 22-21 after a service ace from Reed, but the Sooners regained the lead and forced Murczek to call timeout again with set point 24-22. Although a Sooner attack error brought the set within one again 24-23, Oklahoma would close it out and win 25-23 taking a 1-0 lead in the match.
The second set started off tight with the teams tied 2-2 after a Reed kill. The Sooners then created separation as they gained their largest lead of the night 16-9. Oklahoma would finish out the set with a 25-17 victory heading into the 10 minute intermission.
Oklahoma got off to a comfortable lead sooner rather than later with a 10-4 run to start the third set. Wake Forest brought it within three, cutting the Sooner lead 12-9, but Oklahoma forced the Deacs to call a timeout as they went on a 4-1 run to make the set 16-10.
The Sooners were two points away from match point with a 23-16 lead, but Wake Forest made a 3-0 run to make Oklahoma call its first timeout of the match. The visitors would do no wrong out of the break, finishing out the set 25-20 and taking a 3-0 victory.
Wake Forest is back in action tomorrow as they begin the Deacon Classic, the second tournament of the season in Reynolds Gym. The Deacs face Winthrop tomorrow night at 7 p.m., and take on Western Carolina at 1 p.m. and Elon at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
