Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Falls to Radford in Season Opener
8/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
August 26, 2016
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeVolleyball)
RADFORD, Va. -- Wake Forest let an early 2-0 lead slip away Friday afternoon as the Demon Deacons fell to Radford by a final score of 3-2 inside the Dedmond Center to open the 2016 season.
Six newcomers made their Wake Forest (0-1) debut, highlighted by Caroline Rassenfoss and Bailey Shurbet. Rassenfoss posted 16 kills and five assists while Shurbet handled the setting duties with 41 assists. Kylie Long led the team in kills Friday, as she tallied 19 kills on 45 total attacks. Shurbet and Caroline Wolf led the defensive effort, digging up eight and seven attacks, respectively. Wolf also added a career-high four service aces. Freshman Caitlyn Della had an effective afternoon, tallying eight kills with one error for a .467 hitting percentage.
Rassenfoss connected on a set from Shurbet to open the scoring Friday, and the Deacs would not look back as they cruised to a first set victory, 25-13. The freshman Rassenfoss led the attack in the opening set, connecting on six of eight attempts, paired with no hitting errors. Wake Forest hit at a blistering .481 clip for head coach Bill Ferguson, who was in his first match at the helm of the Demon Deacons.
Despite being tested in the second set, Wake was able to hold on for a 25-21 victory to take a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.
Coming out of the break, the two teams would battle in the fourth set. Radford (1-0) opened up a 17-11 lead before Wake Forest stormed back with eight of the next 10 points to even the third set at 19-all. The Deacs were unable to close things out, with the Highlanders picking up a 25-21 victory to push the match to a fourth set.
In the fourth, it was all Radford as they pushed the match to a fifth and final set with a 25-15 victory.
The Demon Deacons would open the fifth set with an 8-4 advantage as the two teams changed sides. Wake Forest's momentum could not be sustained, however, as Radford closed out the match on an 11-1 run to earn the 15-9 victory.
Wake Forest returns home next Friday and Saturday, September 2-3 for the Demon Deacon Classic. The two-day tournament will be held at the LJVM Coliseum.
