With the season winding down and seven teams separated by just two games of each other in the ACC standings, the Duke volleyball team could only tread water this weekend.
The Blue Devils (17-9, 8-6 in the ACC) split a pair of tough away matches. The team played a close match against ACC leading Georgia Tech (20-5, 13-0) but ultimately fell to the Yellow Jackets 3-0 Friday. Then Duke rallied past Clemson (17-12, 6-8) 3-1 Saturday behind sophomore Tealle Hunkus’ steady attack.
Hunkus had a stellar weekend, first tying a career-high with 18 kills Friday night and then surpassing that Saturday with a new career-high 22.
“Tealle’s performance this weekend was incredible considering she’s a sophomore,” head coach Jolene Nagel said. “She has more time to grow and develop. She’s serving great, passing solidly, and she is putting the ball away. She is really helping us stay in matches.”
All three games in the Georgia Tech match stayed close until Duke stumbled during the final points. The Blue Devils pulled to within 29-28 in the first game before losing on a kill by Georgia Tech senior Lauren Sauer. Duke again struggled in the final two games, losing five of the last six points in the second and nine of the last 11 in the third.
“I am very proud of how our team played Friday night,” Nagel said. “We played hard, we played aggressive and had opportunities to win the game. We weren’t far from making it happen.”
Senior Stephanie Istvan played excellent defense from the back row, tallying 21 digs over the course of the three games. Istvan and freshman Jenny Shull allowed only two Yellow Jackets to connect for aces.
After dropping a tough match in Atlanta, Duke came out strong Saturday at Clemson. The win was a team effort as four players had double-digit kills. Along with Hunkus’ career day, senior Tassy Rufai notched 21 kills, freshman Carrie DeMange helped with 12 and senior Erin Noble added 10 to help defeat the Tigers.
Istvan rallied the defense with 29 digs.
“Stephanie was unbelievable all weekend,” Nagel said. “She got her hands on balls that you thought they were definitely kills.”
Duke’s defense was equally strong at the net. Led by Noble’s five, the Blue Devils totaled 18 blocks.
“It was a great team effort,” Nagel said. “Clemson is a tough place to play at. They have a rowdy crowd. Anytime you can pick up a win on the road in the ACC its great.”
After two tough matches this weekend, Duke feels it is peaking at a time when it is fighting for ACC Tournament seeding.
“We are getting better every time we are out there because we are getting such a great effort,” said Nagel, who believes that these two tough games should help the team improve as the season winds down.
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