Wake Forest University
Georgia Tech
Deacons Gear Up For First Weekend of ACC Play
9/21/2022 1:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Officially done with its non-conference slate, Wake Forest volleyball steps into the start of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action this week, making road trips to No. 13 Georgia Tech (Sept. 23) and Clemson (Sept. 25).
Both matches will broadcast on ACC Network Extra and feature live stats.
This week is the last of an ongoing three-week road stretch for the Demon Deacons.
Wake Forest notched back-to-back 3-0 sweeps over Davidson and Charlotte last weekend.
The Deacs continue to lead the conference in digs-per-set as a unit, holding a 15.69 average.
The Matches
Friday, Sept. 23 – Wake Forest at No. 13 Georgia Tech – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 25 – Wake Forest at Clemson – 1 p.m.
Last Time Out
Match 1 – Wake Forest 3, Davidson 0
Making way to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's campus grounds, Wake Forest kicked off its weekend on a strong note with a 3-0 victory over Davidson on Friday evening (25-16, 25-20, 25-17).
The sweep was the Demon Deacons' fourth such win of the fall season.
Emma Farrell led all individuals with 22 digs, tying the third-best all-time total by a Wake Forest individual in a three-set match.
Emmy Ogogor posted a standout two-way showing of nine kills and seven blocks. Additionally, the senior tallied a .615 attacking clip. Olivia Franke had her most efficient night of hitting this fall, going 8-of-11 for eight kills and only one error (.636).
Rian Baker served up a match-best 20 assists. Andrea Fuentes finished with a line of 13 assists, four digs, and three service aces. Kalani Whillock added nine digs.
Peyton Suess and Ashley Slater plugged in seven kills apiece.
Wake Forest moved to 9-2 in its series history versus Davidson.
Match 2 – Wake Forest 3, Charlotte 0
Coming off a Friday evening sweep over Davidson, Wake Forest kept the ball rolling on Saturday (Sept. 17) defeating Charlotte, 3-0, to end its weekend play on an undefeated note (25-21, 25-22, 25-19).
The Demon Deacons went 2-0 during its fourth week of season competition, recording back-to-back match sweeps.
For the second time in as many weeks, a player milestone was reached within the Wake Forest squad, as senior Emmy Ogogor notched the 500th kill of her collegiate career. She ended with 10 kills on 12 attacks (.833).
Peyton Suess led Wake Forest in kills (11) for the fifth time this season. Paige Crawford added 10 kills and six digs.
Emma Farrell continued to showcase her defensive prowess, ending with 21 digs to pace all individuals.
Rian Baker posted a match-best 22 digs and chipped in eight digs. Andrea Fuentes handed out 19 assists.
Ogogor and Suess assisted on four blocks apiece.
Wake Forest moved to 14-8 in the all-time series versus Charlotte, with Saturday's meeting being the first in the head coach Randi Smart era.
A Well-Deserved Nod
Freshman libero Emma Farrell was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday (Sept. 19). She shared the weekly honor with North Carolina libero Maddy May.
Farrell is the first Demon Deacon to attain such honors since Sept. 23, 2019, when Peyton Suess was named an ACC Co-Freshman of the Week selection alongside Lexis Akeo of Pittsburgh.
In 3-0 match sweeps over Davidson (Sept. 16) and Charlotte (Sept. 17), Farrell recorded 43 total digs through six sets, registering a 7.17 digs-per-set average on the weekend. The Norcross, Georgia native went for 22 digs against the Wildcats, tying for the third-best total by a Wake Forest individual in a three-set match. In the Charlotte win, she finished with 21 digs and seven assists, the latter tying for a season high.
Through the first eleven matches of her collegiate career, Farrell has racked up 20 or more digs on six separate occasions:
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Versus Charlotte (Sept. 17, 2022) – 21 digs
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Versus Davidson (Sept. 16, 2022) – 22 digs
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Versus Sam Houston State (Sept. 10, 2022) – 20 digs
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Versus South Carolina (Sept. 3, 2022) – 21 digs
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Versus Arizona (Sept. 2, 2022) – 28 digs
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Versus Western Carolina (Aug. 27, 2022) – 27 digs
Farrell currently leads the conference with a 5.31 digs-per-set average and ranks first nationally among all NCAA freshmen within that same category. Her 16 service aces stand as the sixth-most in the ACC.
Non-Conference, No Problem
Wrapping its first four weeks of season play this past Saturday, Wake Forest officially ended with an 8-3 overall mark versus its non-conference competition. In the head coach Randi Smart era, the Deacs have gone 27-6 against such opponents, dating back to the 2019 fall campaign.
Series History
Versus Georgia Tech
Series: Georgia Tech leads, 38-12
Last Meeting: Sept. 24, 2021
Result: L, 0-3
Versus Clemson
Series: Clemson leads, 32-17
Last Meeting: Sept. 26, 2021
Result: L, 2-3
Scouting the Opposition
Sliding in at No. 13 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) team rankings, Georgia Tech stands at 7-2 overall and fourth in the ACC standings. Collectively, the Yellow Jackets average 13.5 kills per set on a .257 attacking clip. Reigning ACC Player of the Year, Julia Bergmann, has especially contributed on that end with a conference-best 183 total kills. The senior also leads all conference individuals in points-per-set (6.09). Setter Isabella D'Amico's 296 assists are the fifth-most in the ACC, while Bianca Bertolino is a top-10 leader in digs-per-set average (3.62). Along with Bergmann, Bertolino and senior middle blocker Erin Moss were named to the Preseason All-ACC Team. Georgia Tech is 4-1 on its home floor.
Clemson is 9-3 through the first half of its season and will host Virginia Tech for a first ACC test on Friday (Sept. 23) at 7 p.m. The Tigers have won six of their last seven matches. Camryn Hannah and Mckenna Slavik each rank in the top 3 among conference leaders in kills-per-set (4.02) and assists-per-set (10.56). Defensively, sophomore libero Devan Taylor has totaled the most digs in the ACC (214). Colleen Finney additionally stands out as a middle blocker (96 kills and 25 blocks). Clemson holds an advantage over its opponents in kills, assists, digs, and service aces.
Up Next
Wake Forest returns to Reynolds Gymnasium on Sept. 30 for its ACC home opener versus Syracuse, beginning a two-week tilt.
