Sunday, August 27
Winston-Salem, N.C.
1 P.M.
Wake Forest University
3-0,0-0ACC
3
vs
1
Grand Canyon
2-1,0-0WAC
1
2
3
4
F
Grand Canyon
25
21
25
16
1
Wake Forest
17
25
27
25
3
Photo by: © Abby Smith
Deacs Wrap Undefeated Weekend with Invitational Finale Win Over Grand Canyon
8/27/2023 5:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
A highly successful weekend came to a close on Sunday afternoon for Wake Forest Volleyball!
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Protecting its home court with a notable, collective focus, Wake Forest volleyball officially put a cap on a perfect weekend during Sunday afternoon (Aug. 27), knocking off Grand Canyon (2-1) in a 3-1 finish on the final day of its 2023 hosted invitational. After dropping the opening set, the Demon Deacons stormed back to take three in a row.
Playing as one of four featured programs in the event, Wake Forest now stands at 3-0 overall and was the only team to go undefeated through three days of competition.
This marks Wake Forest's first 3-0 start within a season since 2021.
Ava Carney played as an offensive force in the victory, leading with a team-high 16 kills. She also added two blocks to her final line.
Emmy Ogogor and Paige Crawford rounded out a trio of Deacons notching double-digit numbers in kills, totaling 12 and 10, respectively. Ogogor was equally lethal on the defensive side, pacing her Deacs with four blocks.
Rian Baker shined with 43 assists, the second-highest mark of her collegiate career. Additionally, it was the fourth overall time she's recorded 40 or more. The sophomore setter chipped in three kills, a new personal-high, and 10 digs for her first double-double of the year.
Four Deacons ended with 10 or more digs, led by Emma Farrell's 23. The standout libero has reached 12 career occasions where she's contributed over 20 digs. Crawford and Ava Torrance gathered 11 each, while the latter also tossed three assists for a new career-best mark in a single match. Farrell had seven assists.
Freshmen Dior Charles and Olivia Fish each posted five kills.
For her efforts, Farrell took home Most Valuable Player honors. Her classmate, Crawford, earned a nod to the All-Tournament Team.
Wake Forest has won six of its last seven appearances inside of Varsity Arena.
How it Happened
Standout Stats
Additional Notes
From Coach Smart
"It was a great and competitive gym today," noted head coach Randi Smart. "Grand Canyon put the pressure on from the beginning of the first set and it was great. The team competed and executed the game plan. This is a match that, as a staff, we love to see. We saw great performances and constant pressure from our side of the net and we are really proud of the team. Thank you again to the fans! Your energy was amazing."
Up Next
Wake Forest will next embark on a three-week road stretch, beginning with a trip to Orlando for Central Florida's hosted weekend tournament (Sept. 1-3). Competition against Alabama State, the host Knights, and Florida International will all take place.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Playing as one of four featured programs in the event, Wake Forest now stands at 3-0 overall and was the only team to go undefeated through three days of competition.
This marks Wake Forest's first 3-0 start within a season since 2021.
Ava Carney played as an offensive force in the victory, leading with a team-high 16 kills. She also added two blocks to her final line.
Emmy Ogogor and Paige Crawford rounded out a trio of Deacons notching double-digit numbers in kills, totaling 12 and 10, respectively. Ogogor was equally lethal on the defensive side, pacing her Deacs with four blocks.
Rian Baker shined with 43 assists, the second-highest mark of her collegiate career. Additionally, it was the fourth overall time she's recorded 40 or more. The sophomore setter chipped in three kills, a new personal-high, and 10 digs for her first double-double of the year.
Four Deacons ended with 10 or more digs, led by Emma Farrell's 23. The standout libero has reached 12 career occasions where she's contributed over 20 digs. Crawford and Ava Torrance gathered 11 each, while the latter also tossed three assists for a new career-best mark in a single match. Farrell had seven assists.
Freshmen Dior Charles and Olivia Fish each posted five kills.
For her efforts, Farrell took home Most Valuable Player honors. Her classmate, Crawford, earned a nod to the All-Tournament Team.
Wake Forest has won six of its last seven appearances inside of Varsity Arena.
How it Happened
- The afternoon's first point went to Ava Carney on a swift, outside kill.
- Paige Crawford answered next for the Deacs.
- Grand Canyon stepped into an early rhythm with a couple of service aces, taking a 9-4 lead in set one.
- A service error by the Lopes put an end to a 5-1 push.
- Kills by Rian Baker and Carney allowed Wake Forest to tack on a few more points.
- However, Grand Canyon posted another surge of successful rallies, 6-2, to keep in front.
- The visitors led 16-8 at the time.
- However, Grand Canyon posted another surge of successful rallies, 6-2, to keep in front.
- Crawford next smashed two balls in a row, followed by Dior Charles' second of the day.
- A pair of kills and an ace stretched Grand Canyon's lead to 20-12, forcing the Deacons to call a timeout.
- Three consecutive points went the way of Wake Forest, highlighted by a big block from Audrey Douglas and Emmy Ogogor.
- Nevertheless, Grand Canyon put the first set to a close with a flurry of kills, winning 25-17.
- Crawford started 3-of-6 on attacks while notching 4 digs.
- Both teams traded a handful of kills to begin the second, before defensive plays led to a 6-6 tie.
- Douglas and Charles punched a kill apiece, and Crawford lined an ace to put Wake Forest up by three (11-8).
- Carney and Ogogor helped the Deacon offense stay in a groove, as the team's advantage was upped to six points.
- The Lopes tried to make something happen in scoring three of its next four tries.
- Charles exploded for a hit to cause another floor break.
- Wake Forest led 19-15 on the board.
- Charles exploded for a hit to cause another floor break.
- Carney skied twice from the outside to maintain the Deacs' five-point advantage.
- Grand Canyon tried to regroup in a timeout, but Olivia Fish and Ogogor helped their squad reach set point, finished off by a Crawford hammer.
- Wake Forest took set two, 25-21.
- Baker handed out a dozen assists during the frame while Emma Farrell tallied five digs.
- Errors by both sides made up the early stretch of set three, as Grand Canyon went up 7-3, resulting in a Deacon timeout.
- Carney stepped fresh out of the timeout to land her ninth kill.
- Ogogor was all over the floor to produce several plays, and things were soon tied at 10-10 in the third frame.
- After taking a brief two-point lead, errors hurt Grand Canyon, allowing Wake Forest to jump back ahead, 15-13.
- Action stayed tight, ultimately reaching an even point again at 17 all.
- A lengthy, focused rally by Wake Forest happened immediately afterward, put to rest by Carney.
- 'Seesaw' play kept occurring on the floor, with the score reading 21-21.
- Grand Canyon struck next, had a service error, followed by Crawford sending one home.
- Olivia Franke circled over to the right and put her Deacs at set point.
- An ace by the Lopes sent the period into extra points.
- Carney proved to be the answer – erupting for three consecutive kills and pushing Wake Forest past a gritty set win, 27-25.
- Farrell kept her defensive presence in a sharp manner (seven digs).
- Carney was a force in her hits, gathering six kills alone in the period.
- Things kept clicking for the Deacs right away in the fourth, piecing together a 5-0 start.
- Ogogor was a major spark, set up by Baker, to throw in several kills while the Deacs extended the advantage to 13-4.
- Various players chipped in to continue the onslaught, keeping Wake Forest ahead comfortably for the set's entire duration.
- Fish swung hard to reach match point.
- Grand Canyon responded with four straight points.
- Fish came through again, however, bouncing a kill near the middle to complete the victory.
- Wake Forest defeated Grand Canyon, 3-1.
Standout Stats
- Wake Forest nearly hit over .300 from the floor for a second-straight outing, ending with .299 against the Lopes.
- Wake Forest had the upper hand over Grand Canyon in multiple categories:
- Points: 68.0-67.0
- Kills: 58-47
- Assists: 55-44
- Digs: 68-61
- After tying for the lead on Saturday, Ava Carney led Wake Forest in kills (16) for the first time during Sunday.
- It was the freshman outside hitter's best total this weekend.
- Rian Baker and Ava Torrance reached new career highs in kills (3) and assists (3), respectively.
- Torrance was one dig short of tying her best personal mark in digs as well (12).
Additional Notes
- The Deacs finished on an undefeated 3-0 mark in their 2023 hosted invitational.
- It is the program's first 3-0 start within a season since 2021.
- Wake Forest reached its 30th non-conference win in the head coach Randi Smart era, currently at a 30-6 overall record that dates back to 2019.
- Sunday included the first season appearance for junior defensive specialist Kendall Phillips, who had two digs.
- Following up on a solid Saturday showing, Emmy Ogogor doubled her kills total on Sunday, averaging 9.0 on a remarkable .556 hitting percentage for the weekend.
- Olivia Franke is off to an efficient start for her senior campaign, holding a .486 clip in attacks.
- Franke needs eight kills to reach 500 for her career.
From Coach Smart
"It was a great and competitive gym today," noted head coach Randi Smart. "Grand Canyon put the pressure on from the beginning of the first set and it was great. The team competed and executed the game plan. This is a match that, as a staff, we love to see. We saw great performances and constant pressure from our side of the net and we are really proud of the team. Thank you again to the fans! Your energy was amazing."
Up Next
Wake Forest will next embark on a three-week road stretch, beginning with a trip to Orlando for Central Florida's hosted weekend tournament (Sept. 1-3). Competition against Alabama State, the host Knights, and Florida International will all take place.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Team Stats
GCU
WF
Kills
47
58
Errors
16
15
Attempts
141
144
Hitting %
.220
.299
Points
67.0
68.0
Assists
44
55
Aces
9
4
Blocks
11
6
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
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