Duke’s game at Wake Forest Tuesday marks not only the end of 2012 ACC play, but also the end of the regular season. Having lost six of their last eight contests, including a 3-2 loss to Clemson Friday, the Blue Devils look to rebound against the Demon Deacons.
Despite falling to Clemson, Duke (15-16, 6-13 in the ACC) faces Wake Forest coming off a record-setting night, when junior libero Ali McCurdy broke the Duke’s single-season digs record. McCurdy now has 654 digs on the season, breaking her own record of 653 she set last season. In addition, freshman middle blocker Elizabeth Campbell won ACC Freshman of the Week last week, notching 25 kills against Miami, a career-high. Campbell has reached double-digits kills in five straight contests.
Freshman outside hitter Emily Sklar, in possession of two ACC Freshman of the Week awards of her own, looks to cap off her breakout season with the Blue Devils. Sklar, who has been a key all-around player for Duke, leads the team with 2.90 kills per set and 897 total attacks, and is second in digs behind McCurdy, with 231. Sklar and Campbell, along with sophomore outside hitter Jeme Obeime, senior middle blocker Christiana Gray, and junior middle blocker Chelsea Cook, each have triple-digits kills and make up the heart of Duke’s offense.
Cook and Gray have been consistent both offensively and defensively for the Blue Devils this season. Each has played in all 123 of Duke’s sets, and the duo leads the team in attack percentage, total blocks and blocks per set.
Wake Forest (10-21, 4-15), however, counters Duke with sophomore setter Danae Rosendall, who is 10th in the NCAA with 9.89 assists per set and has 1,068 total on the season. In addition, senior middle blocker Andrea Beck leads the Demon Deacons with 380 kills and 21 solo blocks. Beck, along with defensive specialist Heather Kraft, will be honored before the match as a part of senior night.
The Blue Devils lead the all-time series against Wake Forest 47-41, but the Demon Deacons beat Duke in four sets earlier in the season. Duke, however, is ready to avenge its loss and close out its season on a high note.
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