November 4, 2011
Tech falls just short at Wake Forest, 3-2
Misiewicz, Wiker tally career highs
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Virginia Tech (13-12 (7-7 ACC)) 21261926102
Wake Forest (6-18 (3-11 ACC)) 25242524153
  • Reynolds Gym - 650

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After a hard fought five-set battle the Virginia Tech volleyball team fell just short at Wake Forest, 3-2 (21-25, 26-24, 19-25, 26-24, 10-15), on Friday evening at Reynolds Gym. Seven Hokies reached double figures in at least one category in the long match, as Jennifer Wiker paced the Tech offense with a career-high 29 kills and Kadija Fornah threw down 25 for the Deacons.

Tech (13-12, 7-7 ACC) took an early lead in the opening set and kept a slight distance in the beginning of the match, never letting the Deacons (6-18, 3-11 ACC) tie things up until they put together a 5-0 run to make a 13-all deadlock. Back-and-forth play would ensue and although the Hokies tied things up 21, they never led again as Wake Forest put together a 4-0 run to close out the opener and claim a 25-21 win. Tech took the kills edge in the first set, 14-11, as well as the digs edge, 20-13. Fornah threw down six kills in the set.

Close play would carry over into the second set, but Tech was unable to see the lead until it broke a 14-all score with a kill from Cara Baarendse. Though the Hokies were able to create some distance, Wake Forest was always able to works its way back and match the difference. After tying things at 22, 23 and 24, consecutive kills from Wiker and Victoria Hamsher captured a 26-24 second-set victory for the Hokies. Tech again took the kills advantage in the set, 20-16, hitting at a .415 clip, compared to Wake’s .279 hitting percentage. Fornah again led all offensive players with 10 kills in the set, while Wiker threw down nine.

After the break, an early 5-0 run regained the Deacons the lead they began the set with and created a comfortable distance they wouldn’t let go of. Without going on another large run, Wake was able to slowly build on its early lead and take back the match lead when it took the third set, 25-19. Both teams tallied 13 kills in the set, but the Deacons held Tech to a .087 hitting percentage.

In a set that saw 10 ties and just two lead changes, the fourth set began much like those ahead of it, with very close play. Tech was the first to score in the set and did not hand over the lead until an attacking error broke a 13-all tie and the Deacons went up 14-13. Despite numerous ties, the Hokies were unable to regain the lead they had for most of the set until late. A kill from Wake’s Carlin Salmon gave the Deacons match point, but the Hokies refused to roll over and put together in impressive 5-0 run to claim a 26-24 fourth-set win and force the deciding set. Tech took the kills advantage, 19-17 as Wiker threw down eight of those. Wake led the net game with four total blocks compared to just one for the Hokies.

The Decons begin the fifth set with a 6-1 run to steal the momentum from the Hokies. They never looked back from that point and went on to win the set 15-10. For the first time in the match, Wake led the way in kills with 11, compared to Tech’s nine, while also hitting at a .476 clip, holding the Hokies to a .161 hitting percentage.

Rounding out the double-digit kills crew for the Hokies were Baarendse and Hmasher with 13 and 10, respectively. Baarendse also tallied her fifth double-double of the season, adding 16 digs. Erin Leaser tossed up a near-career high 61 assists as the primary setter for Tech, while Laura Misiewicz made the first start of her career and set a career high with 29 digs.

Fornah rounded out her impressive kills outing with 14 digs, as four other players also tallied double-digit digs for the Deacons. Danae Rosendall tossed up 49 assists and tallied 11 digs in the match, while Dani Thompson led the way with 28 digs.

Tech took the kills advantage in the match, 75-68, as well as the assists lead, 69-60. Both teams scooped up 88 digs in the match, but Wake had the Hokies’ number at the net, leading in blocks, 13-9.

The Hokies return to the court tomorrow evening as they travel to Duke for a 7 p.m. match.

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).

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