Sunday, November 5
Chapel Hill, N.C.
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Wake Forest University
17-8,8-6ACC
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North Carolina
11-12,5-9ACC
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Wake Forest
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North Carolina
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Admirable Comeback Effort Highlights Five-Set Deacon Victory at North Carolina
11/5/2023 4:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Olivia Franke had a career day during Sunday afternoon!
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Going down 0-2 on the road at North Carolina (11-12, 5-9) on Sunday (Nov. 5), Wake Forest volleyball (17-8, 8-6) refused to let up – putting together an exceptional display of collective fight to bounce back in a five-set, 3-2 win for its first Big Four victory of the year.
The afternoon included the Demon Deacons' first win at North Carolina since Nov. 27, 2019.
Sunday featured the team's eighth ACC win of 2023 – marking two consecutive years of at least eight victories against conference foes. This is the first such feat for Wake Forest throughout program history since 2009-10.
Olivia Franke showed out for a career performance – reaching a new personal high in single-match kills with 14. She has one of the most efficient, individual showings of the year in going for 24 attacks with zero errors (.583). The senior middle blocker also added four blocks.
Paige Crawford led the Deacons with 18 kills and Ava Carney had 14. It was the 11th overall occasion this fall in which three players recorded double-digit kills. Carney and Crawford chipped in five blocks and five digs, respectively.
Emma Farrell made major plays, defensively, as the match progressed, ultimately ending with a team-best 16 digs. The standout libero has ended as the team leader in digs 16 times throughout the season. Ava Torrance contributed 12 digs.
Rian Baker handed out a match-high 43 assists – her most in a conference match this year. She also collected 11 digs for her fifth double-double of 2023. Dior Charles totaled five blocks.
Wake Forest has downed North Carolina in three of the last five meetings.
How it Happened
Standout Stats
Additional Notes
From Coach Smart
"What a fight and comeback," said head coach Randi Smart. "North Carolina came out of the gate ready to play early and we unfortunately got in a hole down 0-2. Still, I was proud of how everyone on our side kept belief and focus to start the mark of the comeback, and the rest took care of itself. I felt Olivia Franke played great and led as a senior. Paige and Ava (Carney) stayed aggressive in their attacks and we got a boost from Audrey as well. Defensively, I was proud to see multiple players put up numbers in digs and blocks. Dior made a good deal of plays in the closing set.
"Playing this same team in less than a week should pose another test. It will be good for us to get back and prepare as this final stretch of the regular season continues on."
Up Next
Wake Forest is back home for its Senior Night next Friday (Nov. 10), playing North Carolina again for the second time in six days.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
The afternoon included the Demon Deacons' first win at North Carolina since Nov. 27, 2019.
Sunday featured the team's eighth ACC win of 2023 – marking two consecutive years of at least eight victories against conference foes. This is the first such feat for Wake Forest throughout program history since 2009-10.
Olivia Franke showed out for a career performance – reaching a new personal high in single-match kills with 14. She has one of the most efficient, individual showings of the year in going for 24 attacks with zero errors (.583). The senior middle blocker also added four blocks.
Paige Crawford led the Deacons with 18 kills and Ava Carney had 14. It was the 11th overall occasion this fall in which three players recorded double-digit kills. Carney and Crawford chipped in five blocks and five digs, respectively.
Emma Farrell made major plays, defensively, as the match progressed, ultimately ending with a team-best 16 digs. The standout libero has ended as the team leader in digs 16 times throughout the season. Ava Torrance contributed 12 digs.
Rian Baker handed out a match-high 43 assists – her most in a conference match this year. She also collected 11 digs for her fifth double-double of 2023. Dior Charles totaled five blocks.
Wake Forest has downed North Carolina in three of the last five meetings.
How it Happened
- Early in the first frame, the Deacs scored their first point on a Tar Heel ball-handling error and then Emmy Ogogor made a nice block.
- North Carolina pieced a 6-2 start in set one.
- After the Tar Heels scored another point on a kill, Wake Forest took a timeout.
- Olivia Franke soon checked in to slam a ball through immediately – the first kill for her team.
- Kills and aces bumped North Carolina's advantage to 16-5.
- Wake Forest called for another floor break.
- Ava Carney and Kendall Phillips next entered the match.
- Wake Forest called for another floor break.
- Boosted by a pair of Paige Crawford kills, the Deacons found a bit of momentum – tallying four consecutive points.
- Nevertheless, North Carolina did not need much more to put set one to rest, 25-12.
- Four of the first five points of the second set went to the Heels.
- Middle blockers Franke and Dior Charles made a couple of plays to create close play (6-6).
- Much of the same story persisted, as Crawford nailed a kill from the left side to make it 10 all.
- North Carolina placed two points in a row next before Wake Forest mirrored the same.
- At the media timeout, the Tar Heels led 15-12.
- Carney rocketed a kill as soon as her Deacs stepped back onto the hardwood.
- A couple of Deacon errors allowed North Carolina to grow its lead by four (19-15).
- Wake Forest subsequently called for a timeout.
- Olivia Fish made a kill moments after checking into the afternoon.
- Following a Franke hit and ace by Ava Torrance, the Deacs trailed by only two, 21-19, in the second.
- North Carolina reached match point on a kill, leading by three.
- Carney had an answer, however, to keep the action going.
- A successful challenge gave the Tar Heels a set-two victory, 25-22.
- Franke was 5-of-8 on attacks with zero errors at the time, while Rian Baker had 12 assists.
- Different hitting options worked for Wake Forest early in set three, as the team held an 8-5 advantage.
- Crawford, Carney and Franke all played a role within the offense.
- Audrey Douglas entered the match not long afterward.
- Wake Forest led 15-9 at the third set's media timeout.
- Piling up a few more points, the Deacons forced another Tar Heel timeout minutes later (18-13).
- Baker lined an ace on the ensuing possession.
- Piling up a few more points, the Deacons forced another Tar Heel timeout minutes later (18-13).
- Collective confidence continued for Wake Forest, holding on to a 22-15 advantage after Crawford and Douglas delivered a kill apiece.
- North Carolina would not quite be done, however, jumping on a 4-1 push.
- Douglas placed Wake Forest at set point with a right-sided tap.
- Baker set up Franke nicely through the middle to clock a kill and win set three, 25-22.
- Three Wake Forest players had nine or more kills at the time.
- Both sides traded points underway in set four before Wake Forest took a 9-6 edge.
- Hitters Crawford and Carney continued to pace that end, with Franke also being a key factor.
- Franke sent in two kills, back-to-back style, and the Deacs led by two (14-12).
- Elena Dragani then made her third appearance of the season.
- The Deacs and Tar Heels continued to take turns but the former was able to maintain a three-point lead through the fourth.
- At the time, Wake Forest remained ahead, 21-18.
- North Carolina briefly evened the board at 21 all but Crawford and Franke were clutch to close out the fourth in another 25-22 decision.
- Set five started in a 4-4 tie.
- North Carolina was able to create a slight difference, 7-5.
- When the two teams switched benches, the host was still up by two, 8-6.
- Consecutive mistakes by the Tar Heels resulted in an even 9-9 mark.
- The next four combined rallies were traded as well.
- Carney made a key block and kill.
- Charles put Wake Forest at match point on a middle kill.
- The freshman and Douglas next teamed on a block to step into match point.
- North Carolina suffered one final attacking error, and Wake Forest solidified its five-set comeback in the fifth, 16-14.
- Wake Forest defeated North Carolina, 3-2.
Standout Stats
- Three Deacs registered double-figures in kills, the 11th time the team has done so this year:
- Paige Crawford – 18
- Olivia Franke – 14
- Ava Carney – 14
- On the defensive side, a trio of players also recorded double-digits in digs:
- Emma Farrell – 16
- Ava Torrance – 12
- Rian Baker – 11
- In addition to her 11 digs, Rian Baker had 43 assists to lead all individuals. It was her highest total in an ACC showing this year and fifth double-double of the season:
- At North Carolina (11/5/23): 43 assists and 11 digs
- At Davidson (9/16/23): 50 assists and 13 digs
- Versus App State (9/15/23): 43 assists and 14 digs
- At Kennesaw State (9/8/23): 44 assists and 13 digs
- Versus Grand Canyon (8/27/23): 43 assists and 10 digs
Additional Notes
- With the win, Wake Forest has posted back-to-back seasons of at least 17 wins – its best since 2000-01.
- Kalani Whillock reached over 800 career digs during the match.
- Paige Crawford has led Wake Forest in kills 14 times this year.
From Coach Smart
"What a fight and comeback," said head coach Randi Smart. "North Carolina came out of the gate ready to play early and we unfortunately got in a hole down 0-2. Still, I was proud of how everyone on our side kept belief and focus to start the mark of the comeback, and the rest took care of itself. I felt Olivia Franke played great and led as a senior. Paige and Ava (Carney) stayed aggressive in their attacks and we got a boost from Audrey as well. Defensively, I was proud to see multiple players put up numbers in digs and blocks. Dior made a good deal of plays in the closing set.
"Playing this same team in less than a week should pose another test. It will be good for us to get back and prepare as this final stretch of the regular season continues on."
Up Next
Wake Forest is back home for its Senior Night next Friday (Nov. 10), playing North Carolina again for the second time in six days.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Team Stats
WF
UNC
Kills
61
64
Errors
23
20
Attempts
158
157
Hitting %
.241
.280
Points
75.0
84.0
Assists
57
57
Aces
4
8
Blocks
10
12
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
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OH/RS
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MB/RS
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DS/OH
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