Saturday, September 4
Nashville, Tenn.
4:30 P.M.

Wake Forest University

3-2,0-0ACC

0
vs
3

No. 15 Western Kentucky

-60,00 CUSA

1
2
3
F
Western Ky.
25
25
25
3
Wake Forest
20
21
13
0
vb vs wku

Wake Forest Falls to No. 15 Western Kentucky

9/4/2021 8:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Wake Forest volleyball team dropped its Saturday afternoon match to the No. 15 Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky.
 
The Deacs were led offensively by sophomore Ashley Slater, who finished with a team-high 11 kills. Andrea Fuentes finished with 26 assists, seven digs and a match-high three service aces. Every Deac stepped up defensively, with ten different players recording digs and three tallying six or more. Kalani Whillock led the way with nine, Fuentes and Peyton Suess followed suit with seven and six, respectively. Olivia Franke finished with a team-high four blocks while Slater and Delaney McSweeney finished with two each.
 
How It Happened
Set one stayed competitive, as it started with ties at three and four points. Western Kentucky pulled away to go up 10-8 but two service aces from Fuentes and a solo block by Franke kept the Deacs in it. The Hilltoppers were able to capitalize on some Wake Forest errors to go up 17-10. Kills from Slater, McSweeney and Franke sparked the offense to cut the deficit to 20-15. Slater, Chloe Wilson and Kamryn Malloy each recorded another kill before Western Kentucky took the set, 25-20.
 
The second set followed much of the same path, with ties early on at three, six, nine, 11 and 12 before Wake Forest was able to pull away and go up 17-12 after a service ace from Meg Merril and two blocks from Franke. A service ace from Annabelle Daly and kills from McSweeney and Wilson helped the Deacs gain the 20-16 advantage. The Hilltoppers found some offensive momentum late and were able to tie it up at 20. Western Kentucky went on a hot streak to close out the second set, 25-21. Carrying the momentum into the third set, the Hilltoppers went on a run and swiftly took the match with a 25-13 win in the third.
 
Coach's Comments
"We had some really great moments today, but we also had some not-so-great moments. Western Kentucky is fast and physical, but I loved seeing our serving, blocking and defense against such a strong team. We continue to see great things on the court, and we know we have the right pieces to be successful this season." – head coach Randi Smart
 
Next Up
The Demon Deacons close out the weekend at the LUV Invite on Sunday with a matinee match against host school Lipscomb at 3 p.m. ET. The match will stream live on ESPN+.
 

Team Stats

WestKy
Wake
Kills
42
30
Errors
12
23
Attempts
100
99
Hitting %
.300
.071
Points
57
42
Assists
39
27
Aces
4
6
Blocks
11
6

Game Leaders

Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
1

Players Mentioned

DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
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