The Wake Forest women's volleyball team finished its 2002 season in winning fashion as they swept the Crimson Tide of Alabama Nov. 30 after they lost in the first round of the ACC Tournament to Georgia Tech. The game marked the end of senior Ashlee Phillips' career and marked the beginning of the 2003 season, as the team will return 12 letter-winners, including five starters from a squad that went 14-18.

Wake Forest pounced on their Southeastern Conference opponent and didn't give them a fighting chance. Winning the three games by scores of 30-27, 30-26 and 30-24 was positive for the Deacs going into the off-season.

"Everyone played well and very energetic. This win was a great way for us to end our season is very promising for our future," said Coach Valorie Baker, who just finished her third season as the Deacs' head coach.

Senior setter Phillips played her last game as Demon Deacon. Wake Forest's all-time assists leader went out with a 25-assist performance coupled with a hitting percentage of .429. Freshman Valerie Rydberg finished her first season as Deac with an impressive performance, as she delivered a team-high 12 kills.

Following the lead of her fellow freshman, Christy Williams had six kills herself while hitting a Ted Williams-like .417. Earlier in the week, the true freshmen hailing from the Windy City, received the honor of being named ACC Rookie of the Year along with being named to the ACC All-Freshmen Team.

Williams' was the first Wake Forest player to ever receive the honor and she could not have been more deserving. She tallied a total of 183 kills throughout the season and hit over .300 with a .330 attack percentage. The award was given the day before the Deacs were to take on ACC foe Georgia Tech in the first round of the ACC tournament.

The Deacs looked to improve on their past two matches against Georgia Tech, as they were defeated in both of them, including a three-game sweep just a few days earlier.

But it wasn't to be, as the Deacs were swept again, 30-27, 30-20 and 30-23. This was the closest of the team's three matches, but when hitting only .187 as a team, to go along with being outkilled 63 to 49, it proves to be too steep a hill to climb as the Deacs found out. Baker praised the Yellow Jackets on their performance. "Georgia Tech is a really good volleyball team and played a great match," she said. Georgia Tech went on to win the tournament with a final-round victory over Florida State.

With the 2002 season over, the Deacs look forward to a promising 2003 season.

Returning five starters and already receiving letters of commitment from two promising recruits , Jenna Doane and Lauren Peterson, the team has a tremendous upside heading into their off-season. So despite having an early exit in the ACC Tournament it looks like the Deacs are building themselves for a run next year and it seems as if it could very well happen.