Sept. 3, 2004

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Senior Morgan Havig led the Deacs with five solo blocks and two block assists, helping the Wake Forest women's volleyball team to a 3-1 (30-19, 26-30, 30-20, 30-22) win over South Carolina in the season opener, Friday at Reynolds Gymnasium. The Demon Deacons opened the match strong, taking the first lead at 9-7, with a five point run. Not looking back from that time, Wake Forest took the game, 30-19. In the second game, South Carolina came fighting back, taking a slight lead over the Deacs at 14-11. Picking up the momentum after a time-out, Wake Forest battled back but it wasn't enough as the Gamecocks took the game, 30-26. Going into the third, Wake Forest led the entire time, never surrendering the lead and taking the Cocks on a 11-2 run for a 30-20 win. In the fourth and final game, the Deacs started out slow, but after two solo blocks and a kill by Havig, they rallied back and captured the lead at 9-8. Finishing the match on an impressive 15-6 run, the Deacs closed out the game and match, 30-22. Junior Valerie Rydberg also made an impressive showing for the Deacs tonight, posting 16 kills and 12 digs, the game-high in both categories. Erin Borhart found the game-high in assists, putting up 46. Rydberg also served up three aces and one block, while Borhart found two service aces and five digs. As a team, Wake Forest posted 61 kills, 12 service aces and 53 assists, while outhitting South Carolina .328 to .090. For the Gamecocks, Lynae Vanden Hull and Shonda Cole both pounded out 13 kills, while Katelyn Panzau put up 37 assists. Wake Forest will return to action tomorrow for the second day of the Demon Deacon Invitational, where they will face Marshall at 1 p.m. and Connecticut at 7 p.m.