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Oct. 6, 2006
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest got career nights from several players to overcome early hitting woes and post a come-from-behind five-game win over Virginia Tech Friday evening at Reynolds Gymnasium. The Demon Deacons clawed their way back from a two-games-to-one deficit to earn a 30-26, 26-30, 22-30, 30-25, 15-13 win over the Hokies. The victory is Wake's third straight and moves the Deacons to 8-6 overall and 4-1 in the ACC. Virginia Tech falls to 10-6 overall and 4-3 in the conference with the loss. Senior Lauren Peterson recorded her second career double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. Peterson, who was sidelined with an injury for the previous four matches, broke her previous career-high in digs of 10, set last season against North Carolina. Peterson also added four block assists and one block solo in her comeback effort. Sophomore Natalie Mullikin tied her career high in kills and block assists with 18 and six respectively. Mullikin posted nine blocks total on the night, including three block solos. Junior Jackie Lucas joined Peterson and Mullikin in double-digit kills with a career-high 17. Lucas also chipped in four blocks, including one solo and three block assists. Wake Forest had four players record double-digit dig totals, led by senior libero Natasha Schaefer's 22. Senior Jenna Doane recorded 15 digs, while sophomore Jessica Furlong added 10. Freshman Dylan Faulkner dished out 47 assists and tied her season-high with five block assists. Furlong and Schaefer each had a pair of service aces. Despite hitting just .095 in game one, the Demon Deacons took the early 1-0 advantage with a 30-26 comeback win.
Wake Forest trailed by as many as six points in the first game and did not get its first lead until late in the contest. The Deacs used a 16-9 run to erase the Hokies' 11-5 lead and take a 21-20 lead of their own. After Virginia Tech tied it at 21-21, the Deacons out-scored the Hokies 9-5 the rest of the way. Wake Forest scored four of the final five points of the game to earn the 30-26 victory. In game two, the Deacons had a better hitting percentage (.213) but instead were on the losing end of a 30-26 Virginia Tech victory. Game two looked as if it would turn out similar to game one with Wake Forest battling back from a sizable deficit. Trailing 19-12, the Demon Deacons utilized an 11-4 run to tie the contest at 23-23. However, Virginia Tech held strong, out-scoring Wake Forest 7-3 over the game's final 10 points. In game three, the Deacs jumped out to an early 8-4 lead. After a Hokie timeout, Virginia Tech rattled of six straight points to take a 10-8 lead that it would not relinquish. The Hokies stifled any attempt at a comeback by the Demon Deacons, pulling away late for a 30-22 win. Virginia Tech got out to an early 11-9 lead in game four, but Wake responded with six unanswered points to take a 15-11 lead of its own. The Demon Deacons led the rest of the way but did not gain much separation from the Hokies. Wake eventually put the game away late, out-scoring Virginia Tech 4-1 over the final five points. Game five was one for the ages, as the two teams battled back and forth the whole way. After Wake jumped out to a 4-2 lead, Virginia Tech went on a 6-2 run to take an 8-6 advantage. The Demon Deacons did not re-gain the lead until a Lucas kill broke a 13-13 tie. Lucas ended the match with her second straight kill to give Wake Forest the 15-13 win. The victory moved the Deacs to 3-2 in five-game matches this fall. Wake Forest returns to action tomorrow when it hosts Virginia at 6 p.m. at Reynolds Gymnasium. |
