Saturday, August 26
Winston-Salem, N.C.
5 P.M.
Wake Forest University
2-0,0-0ACC
3
vs
0
Northeastern
0-3,0-0CAA
1
2
3
F
Northeastern
19
14
18
0
Wake Forest
25
25
25
3
Photo by: © Abby Smith
Deacs Earn Another Weekend Sweep, Rout Huskies in Saturday Night Showing
8/26/2023 7:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Wake Forest saw a number of contributions during its second test of the early season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Fresh off an electric Friday night season-opener sweep, Wake Forest volleyball moved to 2-0 on Saturday evening (Aug. 26), downing Northeastern in a 3-0 decision during day two of its 2023 hosted invitational.
Wake Forest has opened its fall slate with back-to-back match sweeps, marking the first time since 2021 when the team notched three straight to start.
A balanced offensive display was the main storyline of the contest, as seven Demon Deacons notched five or more kills. Paige Crawford and Ava Carney led the way with eight apiece while Olivia Franke went 7-of-10, suffering only one error (.600 hitting percentage).
Freshman outside hitter Olivia Fish made her collegiate debut during the matchup, quickly standing out for seven kills (.500) and an assisted block to win the final set.
Fifth-year middle blocker Emmy Ogogor also joined in as a valuable piece, finishing with six kills (.556) and three blocks. Audrey Douglas contributed six kills of her own (.667) while Dior Charles totaled five kills and three blocks.
Rian Baker again had her sharp setting on full display, handing out 32 assists and also impressing defensively with eight digs.
Emma Farrell led all individuals in digs (13). Ava Torracne and Kalani Whillock collected eight and six, respectively, on that end.
As a unit, Wake Forest hit .380 from the floor while tallying more points, kills, blocks, assists, and digs than Northeastern.
How it Happened
Standout Stats
Additional Notes
From Coach Smart
"Every match, we learn a little more about this team and what we can do," noted head coach Randi Smart. "We controlled our side of the net well today against a very good serving Northeastern team. We have a big match tomorrow and are looking forward to seeing how we compete against a very physical Grand Canyon. We are loving our home crowds and can't wait for you all to help us complete this great weekend!"
Up Next
The final day of Wake Forest's 2023 invitational arrives tomorrow afternoon (Aug. 27), featuring a 1 p.m. ET matchup between the host Deacs and Grand Canyon Lopes. Admission is free and the free pizza will be provided for the first 200 fans who arrived at Varsity Arena.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Wake Forest has opened its fall slate with back-to-back match sweeps, marking the first time since 2021 when the team notched three straight to start.
A balanced offensive display was the main storyline of the contest, as seven Demon Deacons notched five or more kills. Paige Crawford and Ava Carney led the way with eight apiece while Olivia Franke went 7-of-10, suffering only one error (.600 hitting percentage).
Freshman outside hitter Olivia Fish made her collegiate debut during the matchup, quickly standing out for seven kills (.500) and an assisted block to win the final set.
Fifth-year middle blocker Emmy Ogogor also joined in as a valuable piece, finishing with six kills (.556) and three blocks. Audrey Douglas contributed six kills of her own (.667) while Dior Charles totaled five kills and three blocks.
Rian Baker again had her sharp setting on full display, handing out 32 assists and also impressing defensively with eight digs.
Emma Farrell led all individuals in digs (13). Ava Torracne and Kalani Whillock collected eight and six, respectively, on that end.
As a unit, Wake Forest hit .380 from the floor while tallying more points, kills, blocks, assists, and digs than Northeastern.
How it Happened
- Likewise to Friday evening, Olivia Franke was the first Demon Deacon to net a kill.
- Northeastern began set one with a 4-1 push before Audrey Douglas answered on two consecutive kills to even things at 5 all.
- Both sides traded through the next few possessions and the freshmen pairing of Ava Carney/Dior Charles connected on a left-side block to start a Deacon run.
- Wake Forest would score five unanswered points, leading 13-8.
- The Huskies worked to cut things down, 14-12.
- Splitting the next pair of possessions, the first official timeout of the evening saw the Deacs leading 15-13 in the first.
- After Northeastern suffered an error out of the break and a Franke hit followed, the visitors regrouped in another quick floor break.
- Kills continued to fall, as Dior Charles punched one through the middle to keep Wake Forest in front, 19-16.
- Ava Carney and Paige Crawford took turns leading the attack for Wake Forest, throwing down strong punches to give their team an eventual 25-19 win in the opening set.
- Carney and Franke had the best, fast starts, going 5-of-7 (one error) and 4-of-5, respectively, on attacks.
- Defensive specialists Emma Farrell and Ava Torrance each scooped up four digs.
- Franke and Audrey Douglas erupted in the opening stages of the second set, providing kills and net protection to aid in a 10-5 start for Wake Forest.
- Eight straight points then went the way of the Deacons, exploding through their floor chances and connecting on all cylinders.
- Northeastern called for a timeout, down 19-8.
- Freshman outside Olivia Fish took the floor for the first time minutes later.
- She would soon post a kill just through seven possessions for the first of her collegiate career.
- Rian Baker lined up a service ace during a 3-0 boost by the team, with Crawford and Carney chipping in on the hitting end.
- Fish leaped and powered a kill from the right to finish off the frame, with the Deacs on top, 25-14.
- Douglas completed 4-of-6 hits from the right side.
- Farrell again tallied four digs.
- Wake Forest scored on three of its first four tries as set three got underway.
- The Huskies found some life to keep close by, ultimately tying the board at 6-6.
- Emmy Ogogor played as a spark to help her Deacs break free again, finding their footing during a 6-1 push that was capped by another Fish kill.
- Wake Forest went up 13-8.
- Able to maintain a five to six-point advantage through the next handful of minutes, the Deacons' hitters continued to take advantage of Rian Baker's setting, reaching a 21-16 mark.
- Ogogor went off again late, sending in two kills in a row, followed by a Fish swing that put Wake Forest at set point.
- The two unironically teamed on a block to finish the evening in three sets, 25-18.
- Wake Forest swept Northeastern, 3-0.
Standout Stats
- Wake Forest was efficient in its attacking game, finishing on a .380 mark and having seven players record five or more kills:
- Paige Crawford – 8
- Ava Carney – 8
- Olivia Franke – 7
- Olivia Fish – 7
- Audrey Douglas – 6
- Emmy Ogogor – 6
- Dior Charles – 5
- The Deacons also outperformed Northeastern in nearly every statistical category:
- Points – 59.0 to 32.0
- Kills – 48 to 24
- Blocks – 7 to 3
- Assists – 40 to 21
- Digs – 41 to 34
Additional Notes
- The Deacs handed Northeastern its third and final loss of the invitational.
- Wake Forest now sits at 2-0 through the first two days, notching sweeps in both victories.
- Wake Forest has continued its strong non-conference, regular-season mark through the head coach Randi Smart era, now holding a 29-6 overall clip dating back to 2019.
- Saturday marked the first season appearances for Emmy Ogogor and Olivia Fish.
- Olivia Franke has sported a .500 attacking clip through the Deacons' first pair of matches to open the fall.
- Rian Baker has dished out a combined 63 assists through her first six sets of 2023.
- Franke needs 12 kills to reach 500 for her career.
From Coach Smart
"Every match, we learn a little more about this team and what we can do," noted head coach Randi Smart. "We controlled our side of the net well today against a very good serving Northeastern team. We have a big match tomorrow and are looking forward to seeing how we compete against a very physical Grand Canyon. We are loving our home crowds and can't wait for you all to help us complete this great weekend!"
Up Next
The final day of Wake Forest's 2023 invitational arrives tomorrow afternoon (Aug. 27), featuring a 1 p.m. ET matchup between the host Deacs and Grand Canyon Lopes. Admission is free and the free pizza will be provided for the first 200 fans who arrived at Varsity Arena.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Team Stats
NE
WF
Kills
24
48
Errors
16
10
Attempts
89
100
Hitting %
.090
.380
Points
32.0
59.0
Assists
21
40
Aces
5
4
Blocks
3
7
Game Leaders
Kills
8
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH/RS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/OH
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