Nov. 14, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest had four players with double-figure kills and five with double-figure digs, but the Demon Deacons could not capitalize on a two-games-to-none lead against North Carolina. The Tar Heels came back to defeat the Deacons in five games 30-32, 28-30, 30-25, 30-23, 15-5. With the loss, Wake Forest drops to 7-21 overall and 4-15 in the ACC. UNC moves to 15-13 overall and 11-8 in conference play. Junior Natalie Mullikin and freshmen Kelsey Jones and Kristen White all posted double-doubles for the Deacs. Mullikin turned in career-highs of 22 kills and 12 total blocks for her second-career double-double and first since Oct. 29, 2005, against Georgia Tech. Mullikin's 10 block assists were also a career-high. White turned in her sixth double-double of the year with season-highs of 17 kills and 19 digs. Jones had her team-leading 12th double-double of the season. The setter dished out a season-high 58 assists and added 14 digs. She came close to a rare triple-double with seven blocks and six kills. Junior Ashley Homitz and freshman Lauren McIntyre were also in double-figure kills. Homitz had 11 kills, and McIntyre recorded a season-high 13 kills. Freshman Megan Thornberry led Wake Forest in the digs column, tallying a season-best 29. Sophomore Abby Miller had 20 digs for the Deacons, breaking her previous career-high of 17. Senior Michael Faulkner was also in double-digit digs with a season-high 16. Junior Jessica Furlong returned from injury to play briefly in game one. Furlong, who has been sidelined for most of the season, had just one dig in her appearance.
Wake and UNC traded leads throughout game one, and the two teams were never separated by more than four points. With the game tied 23-23, the Deacons took three of the next four points for a 26-24 lead. However, the Tar Heels came right back to tie the game, 27-27. UNC followed by taking game point, 29-28, but the Deacs scored the next two for game point of their own. North Carolina was able to tie it at 30-30, but Wake won it with a kill from Mullikin and a UNC attacking error. White had team-bests of eight digs and seven kills in game one, while Jones dished out 19 assists. It appeared the Tar Heels might run away with game two, but the Deacons were able to hang in and pull out a miraculous comeback. UNC built a nine-point lead, 22-13, and then held onto the margin for a 27-19 cushion. With the game seemingly in hand for the visitors, Wake Forest followed with seven straight points, including three on kills from Mullikin, to pull within 27-26. Following a Tar Heel point, the Deacons notched the final four points of the game for the improbable 30-28 victory. Mullikin led Wake with eight kills and four blocks in game two, and Thornberry had 12 digs. Jones recorded 12 assists and three block assists. The Tar Heels came out of the break faced with a two-games-to-none deficit. Wake looked to pile it on and go for the sweep, jumping out to a 4-1 margin. Carolina responded with a 6-3 run to tie it at 7-7. UNC then built a lead that eventually grew to 18-13. The Deacs could not recover and were unable to get closer than two (19-17) the rest of the way, as the Tar Heels escaped with a 30-25 win in game three. Jones dished out 12 assists in the contest, while McIntyre had a team-high four kills. North Carolina used the momentum in game four, as the Heels built a lead midway through and hung on for the win. Trailing 18-13, Wake clawed back to within two at 21-19. However, that was as close as the Deacs would get. The Tar Heels sent the match to a deciding fifth game with a 30-23 win. Mullikin and Homitz had five and four kills respectively in game four. Mullikin also added four block assists. It was all North Carolina in game five, as the Tar Heels never trailed. UNC built a 5-2 lead, prompting a Wake Forest timeout. The Heels continued the onslaught in building its margin to 10-4. Following a kill from White, Carolina took the final five points for the 15-5 win. The five-game loss was Wake Forest's fifth of the season. The Deacs are 0-5 in five-game matches this year. Wake Forest is back in action with its final home match of the season on Friday against NC State. The Deacons and Wolfpack are set to play at 7 p.m. |
