Wake Forest University
9-5,1-2ACC
Syracuse
7-6,3-0ACC
Deacs Fall Short Versus Syracuse in Five-Set Conference Thriller
9/30/2022 9:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
An electric Friday evening made up Wake Forest’s return to Reynolds Gymnasium.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Showing eagerness and energy in a return to its home floor for the first time in over three weeks, Wake Forest volleyball (9-5, 1-2) took on Syracuse (7-6, 3-0) on Friday evening for the first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matchup played in Reynolds Gymnasium this fall. The contest went back and forth through pairs of sets before the visitors ultimately escaped with a 3-2 decision (26-24, 25-17, 16-25, 24-26, 12-15).
Player milestones continued to be achieved for the Demon Deacons, as Ashley Slater recorded the 500th kill of her collegiate career. The junior hitter made the such play early in the fifth set. Slater ended with 12 kills on the night.
First-year outside hitter Paige Crawford exploded for a new career-high in kills (19) and digs (11), finishing with her second double-double of the season.
Olivia Franke also had a career night on the hitting end, collecting a new high of 12 kills. The McLean, Virginia native stood out defensively as well with eight total blocks, her best total thus far throughout the fall.
Andrea Fuentes was another Deac to tally a double-double, piecing a line of 28 assists and 12 digs. Rian Baker proved to be a key component in her setting play, chipping in 27 assists.
Emmy Ogogor reached double-figures in kills (10) for the fourth time this year. Additionally, the senior made rejections on four blocks.
Emma Farrell and Kalani Whillock gathered 18 and 10 digs, respectively.
How it Happened
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Olivia Franke was the first Deac to net a kill and score the opening point for Wake Forest.
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Another swing by the junior tied the margin at 3-3.
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Led by an aggressive start by its hitters, Wake Forest branched a short lead of 9-6 in the opening set's first slew of plays.
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Syracuse used kills to stay close by, before Paige Crawford swung hard to keep her team in front, 11-8.
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A kill down the far middle from the Orange evened the board at 14-14.
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The evening's first timeout then took place.
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A few errors on both sides composed the next eight total possessions.
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The set remained tied, 19 all.
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Crawford and Franke then helped Wake Forest settle back into its hitting game, taking a slight 20-19 lead.
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Syracuse used an outside punch to create yet another tie, but suffered from a serving error immediately afterward.
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Timeout breaks and points were traded, even at 23-23.
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Syracuse knotted a kill to reach set point in the first.
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Kalani Whillock and Crawford kept the action going on back-to-back hits, putting Wake Forest ahead at 25-24.
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Crawford answered again on an attack in crunch time, giving her Deacs the win in a nail-biting opening set.
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Wake Forest won set one, 26-24.
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A total of 14 tied scores occurred in the first frame.
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Crawford went 5-of-11 on attacks during the period.
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As a team, the Deacs hit nearly 43% from the floor.
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Crawford carried her momentum into the second frame, plugging in two early kills.
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Syracuse stayed competitive but registered several attacking errors, helping Wake Forest stay in front.
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Franke and Audrey Douglas teamed up for a block to give the Deacs a 10-6 advantage.
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Wake Forest went on a 6-0 run soon afterward, led by a number of different faces.
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As a result, the Deacs' lead grew to 17-11.
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A block and flying kill by Crawford in back-to-back style added two more points to the Deacons' scoring column.
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Wake Forest stayed hot, especially Crawford on her attacks.
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Franke contributed on two blocks before Syracuse committed a final service error.
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The Deacs moved to 2-0 in the match on a 25-16 victory in set two.
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The team continued to show efficiency in its attacking looks, generating a .368 percentage through the first two sets.
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Neither team gained space of comfort through the opening rallies of set three, tied at 7-7.
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Five successful tries by the Orange created a 12-7 clip.
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Wake Forest collected a big assisted block between Peyton Suess and Douglas, stopping the build.
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However, Syracuse tacked on a 3-0 run to surge ahead, 17-10.
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The Deacs subsequently called for a timeout.
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Despite several hustle plays, Wake Forest could never get within five points of the deficit.
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Slater began to settle in a groove, netting a few kills.
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A service ace by Syracuse officially put an end to set three in the Orange's favor.
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Syracuse picked up a win in the third set, 25-16.
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The match's ongoing story of 'seesaw play' flowed right into the fourth period, sitting at a score of 7-7.
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Wake Forest benefited from its net protection and a few errors by the Orange, holding on to a 13-10 lead.
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The Deacs tallied a 7-2 boost during this stretch.
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After Franke threw down another slam, Syracuse took time to regroup, down 15-11.
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Joining Franke on the push to stay in front was Slater, as the two juniors worked to help Wake Forest keep ahead, 17-15.
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Franke denied an attack by the Orange, resulting in a timeout break.
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Wake Forest led 21-18 at the time of play.
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Three quick points by Syracuse tied things at 21 all.
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The two teams then went toe-to-toe in a flurry of kills. Eventually, extra points emerged after Syracuse scored twice, 24-24.
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Two final lasting kills by Syracuse allowed the visitors to further the match, winning set four, 26-24.
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Nine tied scores and six lead changes happened during the frame.
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With both teams dialed in for set five, the score became tied up a few times early on.
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Suess rose for a swing from far out, as Wake Forest trailed, 6-5.
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Shortly afterward, a successful challenge bumped the Orange's lead to 8-5.
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An assisted block between Douglas and Emmy Ogogor tied the margin at 10 even.
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Syracuse scored twice more, and a timeout was called.
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Ogogor had two more swinging hits late, both right down the middle.
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Having reached set point, Syracuse delivered one final kill from the left side, securing the match victory and a 15-12 final mark in set five.
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Wake Forest fell, 3-2.
Standout Stats
Ashley Slater was the fourth Deac in as many weeks to reach a personal milestone, recording the 500th kill of her collegiate career. The junior hitter made the such play early in the fifth set, on Wake Forest's second point. Slater ended with 12 kills on the night.
Paige Crawford went for a new career-high in kills (19) and digs (11), tallying her second double-double of the season in the process.
Olivia Franke also had a career night on the hitting end, collecting a new high of 12 kills. The McLean, Virginia native stood out defensively as well with eight total blocks, her best total thus far throughout the fall.
From the Head Honcho
"What a battle," said head coach Randi Smart. "Unfortunately, we had opportunities to score and finish, and credit to Syracuse, they stopped us. I'm proud of the team for battling and growing. It was a close match for its entirety, and we will grow from it. Now, we get back to the court and prepare for a very strong test on Sunday."
Up Next
Wake Forest is back in Reynolds Gymnasium on Sunday (Oct. 2) for another conference matchup, facing the Eagles of Boston College at 1 p.m. ET.
