Oct. 10, 2006

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Duke showed why it is the early favorite to win the ACC title this season, as the Blue Devils flew by Wake Forest in three games Tuesday evening at Reynolds Gymnasium. Duke downed Wake 30-17, 30-26, 30-13.

The loss snaps the Demon Deacons' four-match winning streak and moves them to 9-7 overall and 5-2 in the ACC. Duke moves to 14-2 overall and a perfect 7-0 in conference play.

Wake Forest could not seem to get its offense going, as not one player ended the night with double-digit kills. Sophomore Jessica Furlong posted eight kills to lead the team, while junior Jackie Lucas chipped in six.

Furlong also led the squad with eight digs and had two block solos.

Senior Natasha Schaefer tallied six digs in the match to move within 24 on Wake Forest's all-time career list. Schaefer, who overtook Valerie Rydberg (2002-04) for third on the list earlier this season, has 1,161 career digs. She is chasing Katie Horne (1996-99), who has 1,185 career digs.

Freshman Dylan Faulkner dished out 18 assists on the night, while sophomores Shannan Homan and Natalie Mullikin each had three total blocks in the match.

Wake Forest briefly held a lead in game one, but it was all Duke after that. The Blue Devils ran out to a 12-6 lead before four straight by the Deacs cut that lead to 12-10.

Holding a 16-13 margin, Duke ended the game on a 14-4 run to take the 30-17 victory.

The Demon Deacons had their best chance at a win in game two. Duke again got out to an early lead, as it led 15-8 midway through the contest.

Wake then used a 12-6 run to pull to within 21-20. However, the Blue Devils stifled the rally, out-scoring the Deacons 9-5 the rest of the way.

Duke hit .500 (18 kills and four errors on 28 attempts) on its way to a convincing third-game victory. The Blue Devils scored eight of the first nine points of the game and never looked back, eventually earning a 30-13 win.

For the match, Duke hit .339 (55 kills and 18 errors on 109 attempts), while Wake hit .000 (22 kills and 22 errors on 103 attempts).

Wake Forest is now 5-4 in three-game matches this season. The first-game loss was just the Deacs' fourth of the year, as they have gone 12-4 in the opening stanza of their matches this season.

The loss was the Demon Deacons' sixth straight at the hands of the Blue Devils, dating back to the 2003 season.

Wake Forest returns to action this weekend when it hosts Maryland and Boston College. The Demon Deacons will face the three-time defending ACC champion Terps on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Eagles on Saturday at 6 p.m.