Deacons Fall to Duke in Friday Night Road Test

DURHAM, N.C. – On the road in nearby Durham for its first match of November, Wake Forest volleyball visited Duke (16-8, 7-6) on Friday evening (Nov. 3). The Demon Deacons were able to notch the opening set before ultimately suffering a 3-1 defeat.

Wake Forest moved to 16-8 overall on the season and now stand at 7-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play. Friday night was the Deacs' second match versus a Big Four opponent in 2023.

Freshman Ava Carney led the team in kills for the second time in as many matches, totaling a solid 14 on the evening (.314 attacking percentage).

Emma Farrell was once again the match leader in digs, finishing with 15. The performance included the 12th time this season she has registered 15 or more in that category, in addition to collecting a dozen or more digs in five of her last six showings.

Paige Crawford had 10 kills, six digs, and two service aces while Olivia Franke added seven kills.

Rian Baker tallied 35 assists – her second-highest season total versus conference competition this fall. The sophomore setter additionally chipped in eight digs. Ava Torrance had eight digs of her own.

How it Happened

Paige Crawford netted the first two kills for Wake Forest.
Fellow hitter Ava Carney checked in and made a nice, off-hand tap of her own while Olivia Franke chipped in a pair of kills.
Early action was evenly-played, leading into a 10-10 tie.
- Ashley Slater hammered a ball that bounced into the stands on the very next possession.
  - A few errors on attacks and serves hurt the Blue Devils.
At the first media timeout of the evening, Duke led 15-13.
Another Crawford swing and mistake by the host created another tie, 15-15.
The Blue Devils found a bit of comfort later in the set, up by three (19-16).
- Carney responded with back-to-back slams and Rian Baker made a dump kill.
  - A following ace by the latter knotted the board at 20 all.
After Carney put Wake Forest up by one with another hit, Duke called for a timeout.
Slater followed on a timely hit and Franke placed her Deacs at match point.
Duke would only score once more before Crawford ended set one on a kill, 25-22.
- Carney made her presence felt from the jump, tallying five kills on a .556 hitting clip in the opening frame.
- Emma Farrell added six digs.
The Blue Devils led 5-1 to start set two.
- Ogogor made kills to help add into the scoring column for Wake Forest.
Nevertheless, Duke stayed in front, 8-4, before a timeout was called.
Staying heady in its tempo, Wake Forest remained close by, trailing only 11-9.
Duke padded three points in a row, and the Deacs regrouped, down 14-9 in the second.
Olivia Fish entered the contest after Duke went ahead 17-10.
Kills from the middle by Ogogor trimmed the deficit a bit to five points.
Duke reached set point on a Deacon service error, but Franke immediately pounded a kill.
The host finished out the second period on another right-sided hit, 25-18.
Paced by Carney's head-hunting play, Wake Forest started off well in set three, leading 6-3.
Duke worked its way back into the third, tying the margin at 7-7.
- A successful challenge gave the Deacons a one-point edge (9-8).
The Blue Devils stepped in front before rallies were traded.
At the media break, Duke narrowly led 15-13.
Back-and-forth play continued into a 18-15 gain for the Blue Devils.
- Duke next scored on two consecutive possessions.
A hitting error by Wake Forest had the Blue Devils at set point.
- Carney answered yet again from the left side and Fish made a solo block in the midst of a 3-0 Deacon run.
  - Duke huddled up back at its bench.
Fish and Carney then upped the momentum surge to a 5-0 push.
Duke finished set three on a final kill through the middle, winning 25-22.
- Carney and Farrell had 14 kills and 11 digs, respectively, through three frames.
The Blue Devils created an 8-0 start in the fourth.
- The team suffered a service error to stop its own momentum before Crawford lined an ace.
Down 12-3, Wake Forest took a timeout in set four.
- Dior Charles soon checked in for the Black and Old Gold.
  - She and her classmate Fish chipped in kills for Wake Forest.
Duke was able to control the set through the end, however, grabbing a 25-13 victory in set four.
Wake Forest fell, 3-1.

Standout Stats

Ava Carney's 14 kills was a team high – the eighth time she has led Wake Forest this season.
- The freshman hitter has reached double-figures in kills in each of her last three appearances.
  - At Duke (11/3/23): 14 kills
  - At Pittsburgh (10/29/23): 12 kills
  - At Virginia (10/27/23): 11 kills
Emma Farrell paced all individuals in digs on Friday night, finishing with 15.
- She has recorded 15 or more on 12 separate occasions throughout her sophomore campaign.
Rian Baker's 35 assists against Duke was her most since the Deacons' ACC opener versus Miami (Sept. 22, 2023).

From Coach Smart

"We give credit to Duke in how they played a disciplined match," noted head coach Randi Smart. "Early on, there was balanced play on both sides and we did well in getting ahead first. Solid, overall effort was there, but opportunities for more points were to be earned. Road matches will test you in different ways, every time. The same will happen on Sunday when we visit North Carolina."

Up Next

Wake Forest has a second consecutive Big Four test at North Carolina on Sunday (Nov. 5) at 1 p.m. ET.

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Team Stats

Carney Ava

Paige Crawford

Olivia Franke

Ogogor Emmy

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Emma Farrell

Olivia Fish

Olivia Franke

Ashley Slater

Ava Torrance

Wake Forest Athletics