NEWS

Elena Garcia-Guerrios elevating way above the net and the Demon Deacons

DAVIDSON, N.C. – A heavily anticipated rematch with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons lived up to its hype on Saturday afternoon, as the Davidson Wildcats pushed the Deacs to their limit inside Belk Arena, but ultimately fell in five sets, 3-2. (See our News of Davidson photo album from the match.)

The ‘Cats conclude their non-conference season with an 8-2 record, which remains the program’s best start through 10 games since the 1990 campaign.

Sophomore Jackie Bardin was exceptional on the outside, producing another career-high with 23 kills on 58 swings. Elena Garcia-Guerrios (16) and Emma Slusser (10) also paced the offense, while Garcia-Guerrios also recorded the third double-double of her career with 18 digs.

Overall, the Wildcats out-swung the Demon Deacons, averaging a .218 attack percentage while Wake Forest hit .193. In total, Wake produced 10 blocks, including three in the final set, compared to Davidson’s nine team blocks.

After dropping the first set 25-21, the ‘Cats built a 7-3 lead in the second thanks to kills from Garcia-Guerrios and Mia Compas. Compas later combined with Kayla Davis for a block to shut down Wake Forest, as Davidson expanded its lead to five at 12-7. Davidson maintained its five-point stretch through the remainder of the frame, and closed out the set with three-straight kills from Bardin, Slusser and Garcia-Guerrios. Overall, the ‘Cats hit .351 in the second while holding the Deacs to a .105 attacking percentage. 

Wake Forest came out swinging in the third, exploding into a 5-0 start that stretched to a 10-3 lead before Davidson was forced into a timeout. Out of the break, the ‘Cats went on a run with a Xuan Nguyen ace and back-to-back kills from Garcia-Guerrios and Slusser. Despite tying things at 16-all, with another ace from Jessie Doyal, Wake Forest scored nine of the next 13 points to secure the 2-1 match lead.

With their backs against the walls, the Wildcats swung a season-best .415 in the fourth set to force a fifth game. Tied at 17-all, Bardin and Slusser combined for three-straight and Isabel Decker served the Deacons out of system to eventually push Davidson ahead 23-20. Although Wake Forest kept knocking, Anna Withee and Sola Omonije shut the door down the stretch with a pair of kills and secured the 25-22 set four win.

The ‘Cats were even-keeled with Wake Forest through 12-all in set five, before the Demon Deacons ultimately gutted out the final three points of the day and sealed the 3-2 match victory.

Up Next
The ‘Cats will open up Atlantic 10 play at home on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 12  p.m. against George Washington.