No. 14 Duke Edges Florida State 3-2

Saturday, November 3

Durham, N.C.

8:00 p.m.

Duke University

Florida State

Blue Devils Rank Among Division I Statistical Leaders

No. 14 Duke Edges Florida State 3-2

11/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? Carrie DeMange knocked down 22 kills and Ali Hausfeld served up 59 assists to lead the 14th-ranked Duke volleyball team to a narrow 3-2 (30-24, 25-30, 30-27, 28-30, 16-14) victory over Florida State Saturday evening in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The senior duo of Hausfeld and DeMange came through when it mattered, combining for nine points in Duke's match-clinching game five victory. DeMange hammered six kills in the final frame, while Hausfeld contributed two blocks, including one solo stop, nine assists and a kill. Hausfeld finished with a team-high eight blocks and picked up 12 digs for a double-double. The senior setter also contributed seven kills on 15 errorless attacks for a match-high .467 hitting percentage.

Rachael Moss joined DeMange and Hausfeld with a double-double, totaling 16 kills and 156 digs. Junior Jourdan Norman also reached double figures and posted a .429 hitting percentage. Senior libero Jenny Shull led the squad with 19 digs and 43 service receptions, while Sue Carls contributed eight kills and a career-high six digs.

The Blue Devils (20-4, 15-1 ACC) overcame the efforts of Florida State's (12-12, 9-7 ACC) Makini Thompson and Mira Djuric, who each added 24 kills on the night. Duke posted 16.5 blocks, with DeMange, Norman and Hausfeld all adding at least six.

Duke came out swinging in game one and posted a .302 hitting percentage while holding Florida State to a .163 clip. DeMange added seven kills in the opener, while Hausfeld served up 14 assists and knocked down three blocks. Florida State turned the tables in game two and recorded a .429 hitting percentage on the strength of Thompson and Djuric, who combined for 14 kills on 23 errorless attacks.

The Blue Devils got back on track defensively in game three and limited the Seminoles to a .128 hitting percentage after totaling 4.5 blocks, three of which came from freshman Becci Burling. DeMange contributed five more kills in the game three victory, while Norman and Moss added three apiece.

Duke fell behind by as much as eight points at 17-9 in game four, but came back to tie the match at 28-28 before surrendering the next two points to Florida State to force game five. A late 11-5 run sent a statement to the Seminoles, however, and allowed Duke to maintain momentum heading into the final frame.

Both teams battled for the early lead in game five, before Florida State took a two-point advantage after a pair of Blue Devil errors broke a 7-7 tie. The Seminoles would extend their lead by another point following a kill from Lauren Richardson to go ahead 11-8. Trailing by three, Duke called a timeout and came out with a different game plan. The Blue Devils put the ball in the hands of their seniors, as Hausfeld served up three straight kills to DeMange to knot the score at 11-11. Florida State responded with a pair of scores to go ahead 13-11, but Hausfeld fought back with a kill of her own just before DeMange threw down back-to-back kills to reclaim a one-point advantage for Duke at 14-13. The lead was short-lived, however, as a Blue Devil attack error gave Florida State another point to bring the score to 14-14. Hausfeld would come through once again, though, after Moss threw down the senior's next pass for a kill, giving Hausfeld her ninth assist of the game. With the victory just one point away, Hausfeld and Norman blocked a Makini Thompson attack to seal the match-clinching 16-14 victory.

Duke will head south for a pair of ACC matchups this week, beginning with a 7 p.m. televised contest against Georgia Tech on Nov. 8 in Atlanta, Ga. Fox Sports Network will broadcast the match. Duke will then meet No. 24 Clemson on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in a match that may very well decide the 2007 ACC champion. Both Duke and Clemson have one loss in conference play. Duke's loss came in a 3-2 defeat against Clemson on Oct. 13, while Clemson suffered a 3-0 sweep at the hands of Virginia on Nov. 2.

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