Wake Forest University
9-4,1-1ACC
Clemson
9-5,0-2ACC
Wake Forest Sweeps Clemson for First Conference Season Victory
9/25/2022 4:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Peyton Suess had a day on Sunday afternoon!
CLEMSON, S.C. – Finishing out the opening weekend of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, Wake Forest volleyball (9-4, 1-1) saw contributions from all across its roster on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 25) en route to a 3-0 sweep over Clemson (9-5, 0-2). Two of the match's three sets went into a period of extra points (25-22, 29-27, 28-26).
Sunday's victory marked the first in conference play this year for the Demon Deacons. Additionally, the win was Wake Forest's first over Clemson since Nov. 16, 2018.
Peyton Suess set the tone from the jump – piecing a remarkable performance of 14 kills, on a .367 hitting percentage, five digs, and three assisted blocks. Olivia Franke was effective in her hits, totaling seven kills and a .385 clip. Lauren Strain rounded out the efficiency in going 3-of-7 on attacks.
Paige Crawford gave the Deacs a notable spark with a line of 11 kills and eight digs.
Rian Baker and Andrea Fuentes also played as two-way standouts, posting showings of 27 assists, seven digs and 13 assists, five digs, respectively.
Emma Farrell chipped in a team-high nine digs. Emmy Ogogor was another defensive standout, giving protection on five total blocks.
As a team, Wake Forest tallied a .265 attacking mark in comparison to Clemson's .190.
How it Happened
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Emmy Ogogor met a Tiger at the net for a solo block to give Wake Forest its first point of the afternoon.
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Paige Crawford and Peyton Suess followed with swift kills to put the Deacs up 5-2.
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Clemson began to pick up its momentum, tying the match at 8-8 after Wake Forest committed a service error.
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Audrey Douglas answered on the very next possession with a right-sided slam.
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A series of tied scores next took place.
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Crawford flew for a soft tip kill to even the margin at 13 all.
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Clemson scored twice more before the match's first media timeout occurred.
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Douglas and Suess delivered successful attacks apiece for Wake Forest, creating yet another tied up score in set one, 18-18.
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After Ogogor threw a ball straight to the ground on a middle hit, Clemson took a break to talk things through.
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Wake Forest led, 20-19, at the time.
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Three more traded possessions happened next, 22-22.
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Soon, Olivia Franke netted a kill, and Ogogor and Rian Baker timed up an assisted block to allow the Deacons to reach set point, 24-22.
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A final attacking error by the Tigers gave Wake Forest a set one win, 25-22.
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Franke succeeded on five of her first six attacks with only one error (.667).
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The opening set went back and forth with a total of 17 tied scores.
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Several early errors by Clemson helped the Deacs start ahead in the second frame, 6-4.
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The host squad was able to plug in a few kills soon, however, staying close on a 9-8 deficit.
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After Clemson tied the board at 9 even, Wake Forest called for a timeout.
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A trio of Deacon hitters punched in a kill apiece to generate a small lead of 15-13 before Clemson wanted to regroup once again.
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Using back-to-back blocks and a service ace, Clemson stepped in front, 18-16 in the second set.
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An error during their next serve put an end to the Tigers' 4-0 stint.
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Down 20-17, Ashley Slater firstly landed an attack before Ogogor went for one of her own.
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Lauren Strain checked in to start a quick Deacon run of four consecutive points.
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Baker sent home an ace and Slater popped another outside kill.
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The set went into extra points, with the final point up for grabs.
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Two Suess swings had the score at 26-26.
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Wake Forest's attacking game would ultimately be the deciding factor, as Franke gathered for a swinging hit to give her team the set win in an intense finish.
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The Deacs won set two, 29-27.
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Similar to the first, set two featured a number of tied scores (12).
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Suess kept her balanced play going as set three unfolded, picking up her tenth kill.
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Clemson seized control on a 12-4 start.
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Nevertheless, Wake Forest had an answer with a 6-1 boost, initiated by its middles.
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Kills by Crawford and Franke cut the deficit to 19-18, forcing Clemson to signal for a break.
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Out of the timeout, the Tigers put a pair of points in the column, leading to Wake Forest calling its own timeout.
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Slater went off on a quick, personal spree tacking on two blocks and a kill, giving Wake Forest a 22-21 lead late.
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Clemson called a timeout, and suffered from an attacking error on the very next play.
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The Tigers scored on their next two tries before Suess skied for a kill.
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The third set then went into extra points.
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Emma Farrell delivered an ace, keeping the action going, 26-26.
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Suess tallied her final kill before an attacking mistake by the Tigers gave Wake Forest a 28-26 win in set three, sealing the afternoon.
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Wake Forest defeated Clemson, 3-0.
Standout Stat
Peyton Suess had herself a standout afternoon on Sunday, leading Wake Forest with 14 kills, on a .367 hitting percentage, five digs, and three assisted blocks. The senior from Kasson, Minnesota, has been a match leader in kills for the Deacons on six separate occasions this season.
From the Head Honcho
"The focus that the team showed in crucial moments was excellent," said head coach Randi Smart. "All three sets were hard-fought, and we knew that if we controlled our side of the court, we would like the outcome. Every point was earned at the end of the sets, it was pretty amazing to witness. The girls stayed focused and played very good volleyball late in those sets. We got some big plays from multiple players at critical points, and it was great to see that happen. Overall, today was a solid team win."
Up Next
Wake Forest returns to Reynolds Gymnasium for the first time in over three weeks to host its next match – an ACC home opener versus Syracuse (Sept. 30).
