Eagles Capture Comeback Win Over Demon Deacons, 3-2
9/12/2009 3:41:00 AM | Volleyball
STATESBORO, GA- In the first round of action of the Bash in the 'Boro presented by Verizon Wireless, Georgia Southern surprised Wake Forest with a five-set victory (25-23, 24-26, 20-25, 25-18, 15-11). After taking the first set, the Eagles dropped the next two, then came from behind to take the match in the fifth set. Sophomore outside hitter Bethany Sanford earned her first double-double of the season posting season-highs 17 kills and 19 digs.
With the win, Georgia Southern improved to 5-3 on the season, while Wake Forest continues to struggle, falling to 0-7.
"It was a hard-fought match for both schools that could have gone either way," said Eagle head coach Chad Callihan. "We put together some points at the end that made the difference in the match."
Georgia Southern jumped out with the lead early in the first set, standing at 10-7 after an Andrea Beck attack error. The Demon Deacons would capture the lead and hold the set close until the Eagles regained the lead. As Georgia Southern closed in on set point, Wake Forest took two timeouts as a block assist by Kate Van Dyke (Shawnee, Kan.) and Moriah Bellissimo (Blackstone, Va.) secured the set for the Eagles at 25-23.
Wake Forest opened set two with a quick 8-5 lead before Georgia Southern slowly closed the margin. The Eagles came within three at 13-10 off a Sanford (Avondale, Ariz.) kill, but the Demon Deacons capitalized on two errors from the Eagles to take a six-point lead at 17-11. Seven Wake Forest errors to Georgia Southern's two kills set the score at 22-20, Wake Forest. Hannah Nelson fired two kills as the Deacons led by one point at 23-22. Nelson's third kill of the set tied the score at 24-all before an Eagle error and Lauren McIntyre kill sealed the match for Wake Forest at 26-24.
After intermission, the Eagles led by as many as five before Wake Forest posted a 6-0 run to tie the set at 11-all. The Demon Deacons took the lead at 13-12 and closed out the set, 25-20, leading 2-1 for the match.
Georgia Southern hit a match-high .300 in set four as the Eagles tied the match at two-sets-all with a 25-18 stanza. In set four, the Eagles quickly jumped out to an 8-4 lead and continued to widen their margin when a Sanford kill set the score at 17-12. A service ace by Sanford followed to force a Demon Deacon timeout at 18-12. Georgia Southern stood at set-point from Sanford's seventh kill of the set and Bellissimo secured the set for the Eagles with a kill at 25-18.
In set five, Georgia Southern and Wake Forest tossed the lead back-and-forth, tying the set eight times before the Eagles took the lead permanently. At 11-all, two Wake Forest errors pushed the score to GSU 13-11 before Van Dyke nailed a kill to give the Eagles match-point at 14-11. Lauren Claybaugh (Danville, Calif.) served up an ace to finalize the match for Georgia Southern.
Eagle sophomore Sanford paced Georgia Southern picking up 17 kills and 19 digs and freshman Van Dyke posted 43 of the Eagles' 52 assists. Libero senior Cristin Haines (Palos Heights, Ill.) added 16 digs, while freshman Bellissimo served up a season-best five aces.
"I thought Bethany had a huge night for us. She supplied the offense for us the entire match," said Callihan. "Cristin kept us in system, making some key digs down the stretch. "
In earlier action of the tournament, Auburn picked up a 3-0 win over Coastal Carolina. The Tigers were led by Katherine Culwell, who recorded her first double-double of the season, with a career-best 15 kills and 12 digs. Auburn improved to 6-3 on the season, while Coastal Carolina fell to 2-5.
The final day of the Bash in the 'Boro presented by Verizon Wireless will take place on Saturday. For a complete schedule of the tournament, as well as ticket prices, visit the tournament page by clicking here.
