After spending the last two weeks on the road, the Blue Devils can finally leave their suitcases at home. Duke returns to the friendly confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium to begin conference play against Wake Forest at 7 p.m.
With the rigorous pre-conference schedule, including matches against No. 4 Southern California and top-ranked Nebraska, now behind them, the No. 14 Blue Devils can shift their attention fully toward ACC competition. Already leading the league in assists and kills, Duke (5-3) looks to defend their 2006 conference championship.
"Conference play is incredibly important for us, and it all begins tomorrow night," head coach Jolene Nagel said. "Looking ahead to the NCAAs, the only way we're going to be successful in the tournament is through ACC play."
Last season Duke coasted through its conference slate, going undefeated at home with an 11-0 record while suffering only one loss on the road at Georgia Tech. The Blue Devils have not lost in Cameron since 2004, when they were upset by the Yellow Jackets,
Duke currently holds a seven-game winning streak over Wake Forest (3-6), dating back to 2003. Last year, the Demon Deacons proved to be no match for the dominating Blue Devils, who swept both meetings, 3-0.
"Every game is going to be crucial for our success and every team is going to come out after us," senior Carrie DeMange said. "We all have the winning streak in the back of our minds, using it as a motivational tool."
Hoping to build upon its stretch of victories, Duke needs a strong showing from the senior trio of DeMange, Ali Hausfeld and Jenny Shull, who have proven themselves as consistent leaders. After receiving all-tournament honors for the third consecutive weekend, DeMange leads the ACC in kills and points per game with 5 and 5.55, respectively.
Hausfeld continues to close in on Duke's all-time assists record, already having recorded nearly 400 to begin the season.
For the defense, Shull remains an unfailing force, averaging 5.57 digs per game, the third best total in the conference.
Following a 1-2 showing at the University of Houston's Tournament, Wake Forest will look to rebound from a disappointing start. Duke, however, must contend with juniors Jessica Furlong and Natalie Mullikin, who led the Demon Deacons in all offensive categories. Mullikin is a blocking specialist who is fourth on Wake Forest's all-time blocks list.
As the Blue Devils enter conference play, the game marks the beginning of the end for the seniors' ACC careers. Rather than reminisce on their past, the players continue to focus on the season that lays ahead of them.
"I try not to think about it and just take it one game at a time," DeMange said. "Towards the end of the season, I'll eventually look back. But right now I just want to give it my all and enjoy playing in Cameron before it's the last time."
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