Efficient Hitting Powers Deacons Past Mississippi State in Sunday Sweep

KENNESAW, Ga. – Steadying a balanced, controlled tempo from the very start, Wake Forest volleyball (7-2) was in full control during its final match of the 2023 Kennesaw State Invitational, sweeping the Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-3) in a 3-0 decision on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 10).

The Demon Deacons registered a collective .403 attacking percentage for the contest – their best mark since Aug. 28, 2021, when the team plugged in a .411 clip versus North Alabama.

Paige Crawford fell just short of a double-double, posting a match-best nine kills with nine digs. The sophomore hit .389 from the floor..

Four other Deacs added six or more kills: Emmy Ogogor (8), Dior Charles (7), Ava Carney (6) and Olivia Fish (6).

Ogogor was stellar, going 8-of-9 on attacks with zero errors (.889). Charles' seven kills (.600) and six blocks, the latter of which led all individuals, both marked new season highs.

Rian Baker did a bit of everything, piecing together a line of 28 assists, five blocks, four digs, three kills and three service aces. Her total in assists and aces were match highs.

Emma Farrell and Kalani Whillock contributed 10 digs apiece. Ava Torrance set a new career high in assists with four.

Wake Forest bested the Bulldogs in every major statistical category: points (54.0-32.0), kills (40-23), aces (7-4), blocks (7-5), assists (39-23) and digs (45-25).

How it Happened

Making a Sunday start, Dior Charles was first to get a kill for Wake Forest, resulting in the team's opening point.
Back-to-back kills by Olivia Fish, including a service ace from Charles, highlighted a 6-0 open by the Black and Old Gold.
- Mississippi State subsequently called for a timeout.
Fish and Paige Crawford knotted kills after the first floor break of the day.
The Deacs were exceptional in their serving game early, as Farrell dished two aces in quick possessions.
The Bulldogs were soon able to find some success in their attacks.
- A Crawford hit soon bumped the advantage to 18-9 for Wake Forest.
Mississippi State struggled on a few errors, while the Deacons took advantage to pad on additional points.
Baker put the team at set point with an ace.
Ava Carney completed the win in the opening frame, blasting a kill for the 25-16 finish.
- Wake Forest tallied a .444 attacking clip for the set, with four Deacs collecting three kills and Baker handing out 10 assists.
Set two began as an affair of traded attacks and blocks, with the score reaching a 7-7 tie.
Charles and Fish chipped in a kill apiece before the Bulldogs laced two aces.
Crawford delivered two successful swings in a row before lining an ace, as Wake Forest was able to step in front, 16-13.
After Charles and Baker teamed on a nice rejection at the right side of the net, Mississippi State called for a timeout.
- The Deacs led 18-14 at the time of play.
A Wake Forest 4-0 run, paced by Carney, led to another forced break on the floor.
- The freshman ended up putting her squad at match point
  - Fish finished things off in set two, with another 25-16 win for the Deacs.
    - Crawford was incredibly active on the defensive side, totaling nine digs through two periods.
Baker set up Fish for a slam once the third set got underway.
Consecutive errors hurt Mississippi State, as Wake Forest went up 7-2.
Protection at the net and attacks by Carney played an effect in increasing the gain to 12-4 not long afterward.
- Baker next placed back-to-back aces down the middle of the court.
The Deacons remained disciplined, jumping ahead 18-7.
Ogogor was next for a personal burst, punching two kills.
Mississippi State tried to make something happen with a 4-1 run, but a Franke hit and sneak kill by Baker put an official end to the match, 25-14.
Wake Forest swept the Bulldogs, 3-0.

Standout Stats

As a unit, Wake Forest posted a .403 attacking percentage on Sunday.
- It was the Deacs' best mark since Aug. 28, 2021, when the team plugged in a .411 clip versus North Alabama.
Wake Forest outperformed the Bulldogs in every major statistical category:
- Points (54.0 to 32.0)
- Kills (40 to 23)
- Service aces (7 to 4)
- Blocks (7 to 5)
- Assists (39 to 23)
- Digs (45 to 25)
Playing in her fifth showing of 2023, Dior Charles reached new season highs in kills (7) and blocks (6).

Additional Notes

Emma Farrell has now either led all individuals or tied for the match lead in digs seven times within nine season appearances.
Rian Baker totaled 113 assists for the weekend, including two performances of 40-plus in that category.
Elena Dragani made her first season appearance on Sunday.
Wake Forest now stands at 2-0 versus Mississippi State in an all-time series that initially began in 2001.

From Coach Smart

"It was great for the team to execute at such a high level today," said head coach Randi Smart. "Mississippi State is a really good team, and this was a great win. It felt nice to finish the weekend feeling like us again."

Up Next

Wake Forest will wrap its ongoing road stretch with an in-state tilt next weekend, making the trip to Davidson College for the Wildcats' 2023 invitational (Sept. 15-16). The Deacs are primed to take on App State and Davidson on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

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Efficient Hitting Powers Deacons Past Mississippi State in Sunday Sweep

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Team Stats

Paige Crawford

Ogogor Emmy

Dior Charles

Carney Ava

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Elena Dragani

Emma Farrell

Olivia Fish

Emmy Ogogor

Ava Torrance

Kalani Whillock

Wake Forest Athletics

Efficient Hitting Powers Deacons Past Mississippi State in Sunday Sweep

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Team Stats

Game Leaders

Paige Crawford

Ogogor Emmy

Dior Charles

Carney Ava

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Elena Dragani

Emma Farrell

Olivia Fish

Emmy Ogogor

Ava Torrance

Kalani Whillock

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