New Personal Season Highs Headline Deacons’ First ACC Road Victory

Friday, October 6

Chestnut Hill, Mass.

7 P.M.

Wake Forest University

12-4,3-2ACC

Boston College

12-7,1-4ACC

Wake Forest

Boston College

New Personal Season Highs Headline Deacons’ First ACC Road Victory

10/6/2023 10:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Emmy Ogogor, Emma Farrell, and Paige Crawford all were a spark in Boston!

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – On the road for the first time in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play within the 2023 season, Wake Forest volleyball played with composure and confidence on Friday night (Oct. 6), coming back in four sets to knock off Boston College (12-7, 1-4) in a 3-1 finish.

The Demon Deacons (12-4, 3-2) handed the Eagles' their first home loss of the year, as the team was 7-0 heading into the evening. Additionally, the win was Wake Forest's third straight over Boston College in the all-time series.

Emmy Ogogor was an efficient, two-way anchor for the Black and Old Gold. The fifth-year middle blocker totaled 12 kills on a .333 hitting clip while tallying a season-best eight blocks.

Emma Farrell showcased her full package of defensive prowess, piecing a new season high of 24 digs. The standout libero was also close to notching a double-double (nine assists).

Paige Crawford led the Deacs in kills for a 10th time this fall, finishing with 16 (also a match high). The sophomore impressed defensively with eight digs and three blocks.

Kalani Whillock chipped in a season-best 17 digs, along with two service aces. Ava Torrance added 10 digs.

Rian Baker recorded another strong all-around performance: 28 assists, eight digs, four kills and four blocks. Dior Charles tied her season high in blocks (7).

Ashley Slater gave a spark with her powerful hitting, contributing seven kills and four blocks, both of which were season bests.

Wake Forest moved to 3-1 overall in its fall road matchups.

How it Happened

A few errors by both sides led to Boston College narrowly leading 5-3 early on.
Paige Crawford blasted in Wake Forest's first kill of the evening.
Going down 9-4 in the opening set, the Deacons took a first timeout.
After the Eagles scored three more points in a row, Wake Forest began to pick up steam, piecing a 6-1 run.
- Consecutive kills by Ava Carney were highlighted during the spurt.
- Boston College subsequently took a timeout.
The next couple of possessions went back and forth across the first, with the Black and Old Gold hanging around closely (17-15).
- Three attacking errors hurt Boston College.
The host team again found a way to get in front, placing two points, which led to another timeout.
Following the break, the Eagles connected on four out of five tries.
- A kill by Crawford and block by Carney/Dior Charles then occurred.
Reaching set point after a Wake Forest service error, Boston College sent in a final kill to win set one, 25-19.
- Emma Farrell had five digs during the first frame.
Aces were handed out in the opening moments of set two, as Adams laced one.
The freshmen duo of Carney and Charles knocked a kill each, and Wake Forest tied things at 6 all.
Ava Torrance enjoyed an ace of her own soon afterward.
- A two-point lead became the Deacs' to maintain midway through the second set (12-10).
The Eagles captured some momentum, clipping a 5-2 boost, to again go in front, 15-14.
- Another tied score was quickly created once Ashley Slater took off hard from the right side.
Wake Forest led 18-16 in the second after Boston College suffered an unsuccessful challenge.
- A quick Eagle 3-0 surge then evened the margin again, 19-19.
Emmy Ogogor was an aggressive factor, as the Deacons worked to hang on, 22-20.
Carney knotted two quick kills before a service error by Boston College allowed Wake Forest to reach set point.
It would ultimately be Slater to put away the period of action, slamming a kill for a 25-22 set-two finish by Wake Forest.
- Ogogor was 5-of-9 on attacks through Friday's first two sets.
After Boston College made back-to-back blocks to start off set three, Slater ignited a 3-0 push with a kill and assisted rejection.
- The senior next tied the board at 4-4.
  - Taking charge as a fellow upperclassman, Ogogor played as an active presence to help her Deacs maintain an edge.
By the set's media timeout, Wake Forest led 15-12.
- An ensuing 4-0 run gave the advantage back to Boston College.
The Deacs kept their composure, as Kalani Whillock first lined an ace and Crawford/Slater made kills to take over the frame once again, 21-18.
Two big plays by Ogogor led to Slater punching a kill for set point.
With Boston College committing an error on its final attack of the period, Wake Forest went up 2-1 in the match on a 25-19 set-three win.
- Paige Crawford and Emma Farrell had a dozen kills and digs, respectively, at the time, as the former added six digs as well.
The story of even play continued into set four's rallies, as the scoreboard read 7-7.
- Rian Baker served an ace two possessions later.
Four straight points bumped Boston College up to 11-9.
Crawford had a personal response, getting hot in her hits to help put Wake Forest ahead, 13-11.
Ogogor and Carney took turns in lethal swings, racking up points for their squad.
- Wake Forest jumped up 21-15.
Boston College fought to trail closely, cutting into the deficit with a 4-0 nod.
Kendall Phillips delivered an ace for match point, and Carney ended the night on a strong kill from the left end.
Wake Forest defeated Boston College, 3-1.

Standout Stats

The Deacon defense was a major highlight of the evening, as five individuals had eight or more digs:
- Emma Farrell – 24 digs
- Kalani Whillock – 17 digs
- Ava Torrance – 10 digs
- Rian Baker – 8 digs
- Paige Crawford – 8 digs
Wake Forest's 15 team blocks was a season-best clip.
Emmy Ogogor was a force both offensively and defensively: 12 kills (.333 attacking percentage) and eight blocks.
Emma Farrell reached a new season high in digs (24).
- It was the sophomore's 13th time registering 20 or more throughout her career.
Paige Crawford had 16 kills – the eighth time she has plugged in 15 or more this year.

Additional Notes

Wake Forest's current 12-4 overall start is the best to the first half of a single season since 2013, when the team won 12 of the first 15 matches.
Paige Crawford has been the team leader in kills 10 times thus far in 2023.
Dior Charles has posted five or more blocks in seven of her last eight appearances.

From Coach Smart

"It was great to see us battle back with poise and energy after dropping the first set," said head coach Randi Smart. "I was very proud of how we competed on defense, especially, making several hustle plays on the floor and protecting the net. Emmy gave us great energy and others fed off of it immediately. Any ACC win on the road always feels good – we will now have to reset with the same mindset on Sunday."

Up Next

Wake Forest will travel up to Syracuse to round out its weekend on the road, facing the Orange on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 8) at 12 p.m. ET. The match will be televised on the ACC Network.

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