Wake Forest University
14-12,6-9ACC
Virginia Tech
11-16,4-12ACC
Deacs Bounce Back in Four Sets to Knock Off Hokies on Sunday
11/13/2022 4:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Andrea Fuentes added another milestone to her exceptional fall slate.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Eager to be back on the court following a week-long break from match play, Wake Forest volleyball (14-12, 6-9) brought a buzz to Reynolds Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 13). Facing Virginia Tech (11-16, 4-12) for the second time in less than two weeks, the Demon Deacons took three straight sets after dropping the first to defeat the Hokies, 3-1, in their eighth home win of the season (18-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22).
Setter Andrea Fuentes once again reached a new milestone, recording the 1,500th assist of her Wake Forest tenure. The graduate student finished with 37 assists – her highest mark in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match this year. Fuentes also added 13 digs for her sixth season double-double.
Olivia Franke helped set the tone in the middle, tying her career-high in kills (12) on a .500 hitting percentage. Her total of five digs was a new personal-best mark in a single match. Defensively, Franke stood out with four blocks.
Emma Farrell anchored the defense at the libero spot, making dives and gathering a match-high 22 digs. The freshman has recorded 20 or more digs on eight separate occasions in 2022. Additionally, Farrell's mark on Sunday was her best in a conference showing.
Paige Crawford led all Deacs with 14 kills. Emmy Ogogor added nine kills (.368 attacking percentage) and four blocks. Audrey Douglas posted eight kills, four digs, and assisted on three blocks.
Kalani Whillock and Megan Merril contributed 11 and 10 digs, respectively, to have four Demon Deacons tally double-figures in digs.
How it Happened
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Olivia Franke was the first Deacon to net a kill.
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Paige Crawford flew for her own first slam moments later, tying the board at 2-2.
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A few successful serves by the Hokies grew their lead to 10-3, clipping an 8-1 push.
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Emmy Ogogor created some life for Wake Forest, going for a high kill before making a solo block.
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The back-to-back plays by the senior would be the start of a 5-1 run for the Deacs.
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Kalani Whillock and Emma Farrell sent in a service ace apiece during the period of momentum.
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Virginia Tech soon found some success again, scoring on four of five ensuing tries.
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Megan Merril delivered the third ace of the set for Wake Forest next.
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The next five possessions went back-and-forth, with the Hokies remaining in front, 19-15.
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Virginia Tech next surged a 4-1 boost.
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Right after a Wake Forest error, freshman Olivia Murphy gave the team another point by winding up a swing.
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Crawford and Franke also worked to make a few more late plays.
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The Hokies won the opening set, 25-18, delivering a final kill.
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Franke went 4-of-4 on her opening attacks.
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A plethora of hustle plays resulted in a quick 5-5 tie in set two.
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Franke went on a personal tear, knocking down kills and making defensive plays at the net to give her Deacons a slight advantage.
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Wake Forest led, 10-7, at the time.
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Lengthy rallies continued, as Crawford also played a role in the Deacs' aggressive tempo.
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Between a few traded plays, the score soon sat tied at 15 all before Audrey Douglas punched home a ball.
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The Hokies suffered a few errors and Wake Forest went ahead, 19-16.
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A timeout was subsequently called.
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Three more Hokie errors occurred, as the team trailed 22-18.
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A series of neat plays by the Deacs rounded out the frame:
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Crawford firstly knotted a kill.
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Ogogor and Peyton Suess teamed on a block.
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Douglas hammered one more to secure the set.
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Wake Forest bounced back in set two, 25-19.
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Farrell piled in seven digs during the period.
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The match's competitive action transitioned right into set three, with Wake Forest's middles taking the lead on a few hits.
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Franke pounded a kill to put her squad up 7-4.
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Out of the next nine combined possessions, the Deacs placed points on six of them, highlighted by back-to-back kills by Crawford.
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Farrell continued to scatter all over the floor, reaching her 15th dig in the set.
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Additionally, Andrea Fuentes spread the wealth on the setting side.
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Following a middle swing by Franke, Crawford once again posted two kills in a row.
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After Wake Forest made two big blocks, the Hokies took time to regroup.
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The Deacons led 20-17 at the time.
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Virginia Tech struck three kills after its break, but Douglas made another key play to bump Wake Forest up 23-21 before the Hokies made two attack errors.
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Wake Forest upped its match lead to 2-1 with a 25-21 victory in set three.
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The freshmen duo of Crawford and Farrell stood out with five kills and eight digs, respectively, in the third frame.
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The Deacs jumped out to an 8-0 start in set four.
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Crawford landed three consecutive kills during the span while Ogogor chipped in two.
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Suess gave the Hokies' defense trouble with stingy hits, as Wake Forest created some comfort in a 14-6 mark.
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After a brief stretch of 'seesaw play,' Virginia Tech played heady, using a 5-2 run to stay not far behind, down 19-15.
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Franke and Suess again took over, with Wake Forest holding on to a slight lead.
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Crawford connected on a long spike and an attack error on the next play from Virginia Tech put the Deacs at match point.
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The Hokies responded with three immediate points to stay alive.
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After committing a bad set, Virginia Tech challenged the play but was unsuccessful, as Wake Forest officially clinched the match on a 25-22 victory in the fourth set.
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Wake Forest defeated Virginia Tech, 3-1.
Standout Stats
Andrea Fuentes reached another milestone on Sunday, recording the 1,500th assist of her Wake Forest tenure. The graduate student finished with 37 assists – her highest mark in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match this year. Fuentes also added 13 digs for her sixth season double-double. For her collegiate career, she sits at 4,590 assists.
For the third time this season, Olivia Franke tied her career high in kills (12):
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Versus Syracuse (9/30/22) – 12 kills
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At Notre Dame (10/14/22) – 12 kills
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Versus Virginia Tech (11/13/22) – 12 kills
Franke's total of five digs was a new personal-best mark in a single match.
Emma Farrell led all individuals with 22 digs, her highest total in an ACC match this season.
From the Head Honcho
"I am very proud of how the team bounced back," said head coach Randi Smart. "We started off slowly and made a couple of changes, and the team stepped up. Once again, we had layers of leaders step up in their positions. Our defenders came up big and slowed down Virginia Tech's offense after the first set. That's what we need and that's who we are. It was great to see them change the match."
Up Next
Wake Forest is on the road for one final time of the regular season next week, making trips to Duke (Nov. 16) and Virginia (Nov. 20).
