After winning 10 of their last 11 games, the Blue Devils hope to continue their success this Halloween weekend against two ACC opponents in Wake Forest and Virginia Tech.
No. 19 Duke hosts its North Carolina neighbor from Winston-Salem at Cameron Indoor Stadium Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the teams’ second meeting of the season. The rematch comes just 19 days after the Blue Devils swept the Demon Deacons in three swift sets 80 miles west on I-85.
“We came out really strong when we played them,” defensive specialist Sasha Karelov said. “We need to replicate that energy and come out even stronger.”
The sophomore from Raleigh, N.C., is coming off an excellent performance against Clemson last Friday when she dove to the ground for 26 digs in just three sets. She had another 10 digs the last time Duke (16-4, 8-1 in the ACC) played Wake Forest, but cites the victory as a team effort.
“We blocked really well against them last time,” Karelov said. “[If they want to win] they’re going to have to work on getting around our big block.”
The Blue Devils’ blocking game wasn’t the only thing that contributed to the win Oct. 12. Outside hitters Jeme Obeime and Emily Sklar combined for 29 kills in the victory against the Demon Deacons (12-11, 2-7) earlier this month. Obeime realizes, however, that an easy victory in game one does not mean Duke can take Friday’s matchup lightly.
“The preparation is different because we’ve played them already this season,” Obeime said. “We know it’s harder to beat a team the second time around, always. We remember them.”
Head coach Jolene Nagel echoed Obeime’s thoughts.
“I’m concerned because we did beat Wake Forest before, that we don’t prepare properly,” Nagel said. “We need to prepare just as diligently as the first time, because they’re definitely going to be ready for us.”
Nagel’s concern is justified. Wake Forest runs an effective 6-2 rotation which allows for a variety of offensive weapons, as seven Demon Deacons average more than a kill per set. Most notable among this group is senior Jazmen Russel, whose 4.2 kills per set average is the highest clip on either team.
“They have some strong outside hitting,” Nagel said. “They have a lot of players with experience. They’re very deep, and their depth and experience of playing together is a strength of theirs; they don’t have just one core of players.”
Two days after Friday’s matchup, Duke takes to the road to visit the Hokies (9-13, 2-7) in the programs’ first meeting of the season. The Blue Devils have won four of the last five meetings and 13 of the last 15 against Virginia Tech, including last year’s three-set sweep in Durham.
The Hokies also employ a 6-2 rotation, allowing for a taller offensive line. Like Wake Forest, Virginia Tech has a plethora of ways to accumulate kills, with eight players averaging more than a kill per set, four of whom sport two-or-more kill per set stats.
“I expect it to be a very tough match,” Nagel said. “It always is against them. They have some great middles and great right sides.”
There is also an air of uncertainty about the matchup. Friday’s game against Wake Forest will mark the fourth matchup between the Blue Devils and Demon Deacons in the last 13 months, Sunday will be only the second time Duke has faced the Hokies in the past two seasons. Additionally, the last time the game was in Blacksburg, Va., the Blue Devils suffered a rare loss, considering the recent series trend.
“They’re a bit unfamiliar to us,” Nagel said. “They get some very good crowds at Cassel Coliseum. Because of that, I think we really need to make sure we are ready to play. The league is so tight you can’t afford to take anything for granted.”
Currently tied for second place in the conference, Duke will need to take these words to heart with only nine games left in the regular season, all against tough ACC opponents.
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