Sunday, November 19
Blacksburg, Va.
12 P.M.
Wake Forest University
17-11,8-9ACC
1
at
3
Virginia Tech
13-14,3-13ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Wake Forest
25
23
23
11
1
Virginia Tech
22
25
25
25
3
Wake Forest Falls at Virginia Tech During Penultimate Regular-Season Test
11/19/2023 2:40:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Ashley Slater reached a new season high on Sunday afternoon.
BLACKSBURG, Va. – On the road one final time for the 2023 regular season, Wake Forest volleyball (17-11, 8-9) visited Virginia Tech (13-14, 3-13) on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 19). The Demon Deacons were able to capture the first set, but ultimately suffered a 3-1 defeat in Blacksburg.
Wake Forest split its regular-season series versus the Hokies, 1-1.
Senior hitter Ashley Slater impressed with an efficient, season-high mark of 15 kills on a .480 hitting percentage. Her classmate Olivia Franke chipped in 11 kills and a .320 attacking clip.
Freshman hitter Ava Carney was a two-way standout, finishing with 14 kills and seven digs.
Sunday was the 13th time this season in which Wake Forest had three or more of its own register double figures in kills.
For the fourth match in a row, sophomore setter Rian Baker recorded over 40 assists. The Rolling Meadows, Illinois, native tossed out 43 for the day, including eight digs.
Defensively, Emma Farrell and Ava Torrance each totaled 10 digs.
How it Happened
Standout Stats
From Coach Smart
"Tough weekend," said head coach Randi Smart. "These ones on the road in the ACC will always test you, regardless of the opponent. This late in the season, we just have to continue to do everything as a whole and keep bodies as healthy as possible. We have appreciated the support all year long and are looking forward to playing one final one of the regular season in our gym on Wednesday in front of our fans."
Up Next
The 2023 regular-season finale will take place inside Varsity Arena next Wednesday (Nov. 22), as the Deacs are primed to host Boston College in a 4 p.m. ET showdown. Wake Forest downed the Eagles on the road earlier this season (Oct. 6) in a 3-1 decision.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Wake Forest split its regular-season series versus the Hokies, 1-1.
Senior hitter Ashley Slater impressed with an efficient, season-high mark of 15 kills on a .480 hitting percentage. Her classmate Olivia Franke chipped in 11 kills and a .320 attacking clip.
Freshman hitter Ava Carney was a two-way standout, finishing with 14 kills and seven digs.
Sunday was the 13th time this season in which Wake Forest had three or more of its own register double figures in kills.
For the fourth match in a row, sophomore setter Rian Baker recorded over 40 assists. The Rolling Meadows, Illinois, native tossed out 43 for the day, including eight digs.
Defensively, Emma Farrell and Ava Torrance each totaled 10 digs.
How it Happened
- Rian Baker set up Olivia Franke on the afternoon's first possession for a quick kill.
- Back-to-back hits by Ashley Slater put Wake Forest up 5-3.
- Virginia Tech soon delivered a service ace to shrink the deficit to 8-7.
- The Wake Forest hitters helped the team jump back ahead before the media timeout arrived, as Ava Carney plugged in some successful swings.
- By the first break of the contest, the Deacs led 15-10.
- A 6-2 Deacon run next took place, with Emmy Ogogor chipping into the scoring column.
- After suffering an attack error, Virginia Tech called for a timeout, down 22-13 in the first.
- The Hokies tried to then make something happen, scoring on three of four chances.
- Carney, nevertheless, put her team at set point with a hammer.
- Seeing Virginia Tech tack on four consecutive points, Wake Forest took a floor break.
- The hosts were able to hand out another pair of aces, but Carney again made a big hit, officially finishing out set one for the Deacs, 25-22.
- Slater went 6-of-6 in her attacks during the first frame, while Emma Farrell collected six digs.
- Wake Forest tied set two at 4-4 early before a bad set by Virginia Tech gave the Deacs a slight lead.
- The Hokies were able to step in front by four (9-5) after the Deacons committed a few attacking errors.
- Wake Forest subsequently talked things over in a timeout.
- Ogogor then smacked a ball through the middle once back on the floor.
- Wake Forest subsequently talked things over in a timeout.
- Carney followed with a kill and a Baker ace cut the Hokie lead to 9-8.
- The former continued to feel it with her attacks, helping Wake Forest gain some comfort, 13-10.
- Virginia Tech was forced into a timeout.
- The former continued to feel it with her attacks, helping Wake Forest gain some comfort, 13-10.
- A Carney ace had the Black and Old Gold standing at a 16-12 advantage in the second.
- A few points were traded before the frame became knotted at 20 all.
- Three total possessions went by before Wake Forest called their final timeout of the second, narrowly trailing 22-21.
- Next, Carney evened the board once again.
- Virginia Tech reached set point on a middle kill.
- The same occurred two possessions later, giving the Hokies a second-set victory, 25-23.
- Carney had 10 kills at the time and Slater was 9-of-11 on attacks with zero errors (.818).
- The same occurred two possessions later, giving the Hokies a second-set victory, 25-23.
- Wake Forest scored the first three points of set three.
- Rallies went back and forth before Franke delivered an ace to give her squad a two-point gain.
- Slater refused to slow down, throwing in three straight kills to give the Deacs a 15-12 edge.
- However, Virginia Tech responded with a 5-1 surge and the lead was cut to one point in the third (17-16).
- Not long after reaching another tie in the set (18-18), Crawford and Carney made ensuing plays but Virginia Tech stretched out a bit more to a 22-20 mark – tallying consecutive kills.
- Once the Hokies notched their 23rd point, Baker smartly snuck in a dump kill.
- Slater then skied from the right and a one-point game was active (23-22).
- Virginia Tech suffered an attacking mistake but was able to reach set point on a cross kill.
- One more punch, down the middle, gave the Hokies another 25-23 win, wrapping set three.
- An ace gave Virginia Tech a 6-3 start in the fourth.
- Service errors were immediately traded.
- Wake Forest took a timeout after going down 9-4.
- Through a bit of 'seesaw play,' Virginia Tech stayed in front, 13-7.
- Olivia Fish soon checked in for the Deacs.
- Lasting kills and aces by the Hokies gave them the set win in the fourth, 25-11.
- Wake Forest fell, 3-1.
Standout Stats
- A trio of Wake Forest individuals finished with double-digit numbers in kills:
- Ashley Slater – 15
- Ava Carney – 14
- Olivia Franke – 11
- Rian Baker had 43 assists against the Hokies. It was the fourth showing in a row by the sophomore in which she posted 40+ in that area:
- At Virginia Tech (11/19/23): 43 assists & eight digs
- At Notre Dame (11/17/23): 51 assists & 12 digs
- Versus North Carolina (11/10/23): 45 assists & seven digs
- At North Carolina (11/5/23): 43 assists & 11 digs
From Coach Smart
"Tough weekend," said head coach Randi Smart. "These ones on the road in the ACC will always test you, regardless of the opponent. This late in the season, we just have to continue to do everything as a whole and keep bodies as healthy as possible. We have appreciated the support all year long and are looking forward to playing one final one of the regular season in our gym on Wednesday in front of our fans."
Up Next
The 2023 regular-season finale will take place inside Varsity Arena next Wednesday (Nov. 22), as the Deacs are primed to host Boston College in a 4 p.m. ET showdown. Wake Forest downed the Eagles on the road earlier this season (Oct. 6) in a 3-1 decision.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Team Stats
WF
VT
Kills
50
54
Errors
25
16
Attempts
128
128
Hitting %
.195
.297
Points
60.0
74.5
Assists
47
47
Aces
5
10
Blocks
5
10.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
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