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Wednesday, September 21
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Duke University
3
vs
1
Wake Forest
Middles Power Duke in ACC Win over Wake Forest
9/21/2016 9:52:00 PM | Volleyball
DURHAM, N.C. – Blue Devil middle blockers Jordan Tucker and Leah Meyer combined for 26 kills and a .460 hitting percentage to power Duke past Wake Forest 3-1 (25-15, 19-25, 25-19, 25-21) in the teams' ACC opener Wednesday evening in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Tucker finished with 14 kills and no attack errors in addition to four digs, five blocks and a career-high five aces. Meyer ended a block assist shy of a double-double, amassing 12 kills and nine block assists.
Tucker and Meyer helped Duke (7-4) total a season-best 15.0 team blocks and limit Wake Forest (4-8, 0-1 ACC) to a .154 hitting percentage overall. The Demon Deacons hit above .100 in just one frame.
“I felt like when we were in system and communicating, things went well,” said head coach Jolene Nagel. “ During that second set, I don't think we were as hungry. We didn't block balls and we didn't play defense. Once we got back on track, the team did a great job.”
In addition to Duke's block, the backline picked up 61 digs, led by defensive specialist Nicole Elattrache's 16. Libero Sasha Karelov and outside hitter Jamie Stivers joined Elattrache in double-digit digs, adding 11 and 10, respectively.
Wake Forest's Caroline Rassenfoss led all players with 20 kills, followed by Kylie Long (11) and Katie Moore (10).
Duke cruised in the first set and won the frame, 25-15, behind six Meyer kills. Wake Forest put together its best showing of the evening in the second, totaling 17 kills on a .593 hitting percentage. The Demon Deacons tied the match at one-all following the 25-19 decision.
Duke regrouped in the third and fourth sets, stymying the Wake Forest offense the rest of the way. After going without a block in the second set, the Blue Devils recorded eight in the third and four in the fourth.
“We really just turned it on,” Tucker said. “We had a good talk in the locker room. It was really important that we came out and talked a lot and were aggressive. I think in the second set we really struggled on the block, timing and setting up right. That was something the rest of game we had to figure out. We were able to and it helped us a ton.”
The Blue Devils opened the third on a 7-1 tear and never let the Demon Deacons within six points the rest of the way. Trailing 13-9 to start the fourth, Duke mounted an 8-0 rally with Tucker at the service line to take control of the set.
“That was really exciting,” Nagel said. “Jordan [Tucker] did a great job. She's doing a nice job as a senior captain. Taking advantage of that opportunity with her serve and defense. Excited for Jordan and she did a great job for us tonight.”
Duke travels to Virginia Saturday, Sept. 4 for a 7 p.m., match against the Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Va.
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