WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The UNCG volleyball team fell behind early in each set Saturday evening and could not quite recover, dropping a 3-0 (18-25, 20-25, 22-25) decision to Wake Forest to end the Deacon Invitational at Reynolds Gymnasium. The Spartans end the opening weekend with a 2-1 record while the Demon Deacons remain undefeated at 3-0.

"Our team is much better than it showed tonight," head coach Patrick Nicholas said. "I am quite disappointed because we started the weekend so well and played at a high level the first two matches. We have to continue to focus on our side of the net and what we can control. We will get back to work in the gym and continue to get better as a team."

The Spartans struggled hitting the ball for percentage in the contest as the Blue and Gold could only muster a .104 mark. That is what the match essentially came down to as both teams recorded 106 attempts and made 20 errors. Wake Forest tallied 43 kills to UNCG's 31. The home side also out-dug the Spartans 48-31.

Senior outside hitter Olivia Humphries (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) led the UNCG offense with nine kills while classmate and libero Kellie Orewiler (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive) paced the defense with 13 digs. Orewiler also recorded two service aces.

With the first set tied at five, Wake Forest went on a 5-0 run capped off by a kill from Matalee Reed. The Blue and Gold would recover, however, outscoring the Deacons 9-5 to draw within one when freshman outside hitter Jessica Brezwyn (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South) put down a kill. WFU scored three straight to establish some breathing room and that would be all the Deacons needed to close out the set at 25-18.

Wake Forest got its offense going early in the second frame, racing out to a 9-2 advantage. The Blue and Gold battled back though, scoring six consecutive points to pull within 9-8 and force a Deacon timeout. The home team was able to pull ahead, outscoring UNCG 7-4 to forge a 16-12 edge. The Spartans drew to within three point s a few times, but WFU captured the second stanza 25-20.

The teams traded 4-0 runs to begin the third set and the score stayed tight for much of the way. UNCG called a timeout down 15-13 but eventually tied the frame at 17 when senior middle hitter Morgan Freeman (Virginia Beach, Va./University of Connecticut) put down consecutive kills. The Spartans attempted to wrest control away from the home squad, but the Deacons proved a bit too much and closed out the match by a 25-22 scoreline.

UNCG opens the home portion of its schedule Friday, Sept. 6, co-hosting the UNCG/A&T Invitational with crosstown neighbor North Carolina A&T. The Spartans will play Murray State at Fleming Gymnasium to open tournament play with first serve scheduled for 7 p.m.

Deacon Invitational All-Tournament Team
Kristin Grissom - Wake Forest (MVP)
Kylie Hargreaves - Wake Forest
Jazmen Russell - Wake Forest
Olivia Humphries - UNCG
Kelsey Sidney - UNCG
Khadijah Wiley - ETSU
Shelby Beasley - ECU