WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - For the second consecutive match, the William & Mary volleyball team was topped in the last three sets after claiming the opening period, resulting in a 3-1 (26-24, 21-25, 21-25, 21-25) setback at ACC foe Wake Forest on Friday evening. With the loss, the Tribe owns a 2-6 record, while the Demon Deacons move to 5-2.
 
Senior Sydney Biniak collected double-digit kills for the fourth time in a row behind a match-high 18 (.333 hitting percentage). It is also her second straight contest with 15-plus kills. Lauren Moussaid posted a season-high 16 digs and matched classmate Kate Dedrick with eight kills.
 
Sophomore Autumn Brenner was just short of a double-double after distributing 21 assists to go along with nine digs. Junior Katie Kemp tied Brenner in assists and chipped in six digs. Freshman Katie Turner also added 14 digs and an ace.
 
The first set saw 13 ties and four lead changes as both team struggled to gain separation. The Deacs built a four-point cushion, but Biniak and freshman Taylor Heishman partnered on a block for a 15-all tie. Wake Forest knotted up the score again at 24-24, before the Green Gold claimed the period on kills from Biniak and then Moussaid.
 
The Tribe led by three on a 15-12 margin in the second set, but the Demon Deacons sparked a 5-0 run to recapture the advantage and wouldn't relinquish it. Wake Forest held W&M at bay during the remainder of the match after giving up the lead just twice in the last two sets. In the fourth period, the Green and Gold rallied from a five-point deficit by taking a 19-17 advantage on a Moussaid hammer. However, WF went on an 8-2 run to close out the match.
 
Inside the Numbers
Defense was key in the Wake Forest comeback bid as the Demon Deacons won the blocking battle 18-to-5 and limited the Green and Gold to a .143 attack percentage…It's the second consecutive match the Tribe had three players record at least eight kills…Biniak has hit over .330 in her last three matches.
 
Notes

• Wake Forest improves its all-time series lead over W&M to 6-3.
• Brenner is just nine assists away from the 1,000^th of her career.
• Freshman Julia Brown has recorded at least one ace in the past four matches
• Both Dedrick and Moussaid have posted at least eight kills on three occasions.
• The Tribe is now 1-2 in four-set contest.

 
Quotable
"Tonight, we took steps forward as a program. We made adjustments quickly, we ran our offense and we fought hard. Moving forward, the key will be to move on from this and be ready for tomorrow's opponents. I'm proud of this team and know they are hungry for a win and will come out fighting. The future looks bright for this team and I'm excited!" – Head Coach Melissa Ferris.
 
Up Next
The Tribe concludes the Wake Forest Invitational tomorrow with matches against Maryland Eastern Shore (1 PM) and USC Upstate (4:30 PM). The Tribe will meet UMES for the first time since 2009 and faces USC Upstate for the first time ever.