Crawford and Ogogor Shine as Deacs Finish Victorious in Five-Set Friday Victory Over Mountaineers

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Focused for the start of its final non-conference weekend of the 2023 regular season, Wake Forest volleyball (8-2) put on an exceptional display of group effort during day one of the Davidson Invitational (Sept. 15). The Demon Deacons fought all evening long to ultimately earn a 3-2 win over the App State Mountaineers (9-2).

This is the first time Wake Forest has won eight or more of its first 10 season matches since 2019.

Eight of the Deacs' last nine meetings versus App State have been victories.

Friday evening involved a new season high in kills (20) and career best in digs (17) for Paige Crawford, as the sophomore recorded her second double-double of the year. It was also the third time she's netted 20 or more kills in her young collegiate career.

Emmy Ogogor was a fellow standout on the night, reaching a new career high in service aces (3) while tying her best individual mark in kills (14). She was an anchor defensively, knotting a season high in blocks with seven.

Rian Baker posted an impressive line of 43 assists (match high), 14 digs (season high), five blocks, two service aces, and a career-high five kills. She now leads the team in double-doubles this fall with three.

Dior Charles tallied her best mark of the fall in blocks (7), while adding five kills.

Ava Carney finished with 11 kills and nine digs – the latter being her best total thus far in 2023. It was the third time this season in which Wake Forest had three or more individuals register double-figures in kills.

Emma Farrell and Ava Torrance added 16 and nine digs, respectively. The latter had two aces as well.

Wake Forest collectively secured new season highs in assists (56), blocks (14) and digs (76), while additionally tying in kills (61).

How it Happened

Emmy Ogogor was the first Deacon to put points on the board, netting two kills to open the first set.
- Ava Carney soon entered the set and immediately produced lethal hits, as the score was tied at 6-6.
The next few possessions went back-and-forth between the two sides, as Olivia Fish made two successful swings.
- Things remained close in a 10-10 read.
App State soon committed an attacking error, as the action remained even at 12-12.
A quick 3-0 stretch, highlighted by a service ace, put the Mountaineers in front by two.
- Crawford answered to give her Deacs another point.
Taking advantage of a service error and another kill, App State found itself ahead 18-15 before Wake Forest took its first timeout.
App State placed three more consecutive points right after the break.
Crawford landed a kill in the midst of the final possessions, but Wake Forest was able to take the first, 25-17.
- Crawford and Carney plugged in four kills apiece during the frame.
App State pieced a 7-2 start in the second set.
An Ogogor kill began a 4-0 push for Wake Forest cutting the deficit to one point.
App State moved to another three-point gain after capitalizing on a few Deacon errors.
Ogogor laced an ace and Fish punched a ball from the right side to once again make the period a one-point game.
A 4-0 burst by App State led to another floor break.
- Wake Forest trailed 16-11 at the time.
Paced by Rian Baker's setting and Crawford's aggressive swings, the Deacs were able to score on five of six possessions, down 19-17.
- The Mountaineers regrouped in a timeout.
After Crawford nailed another hit, an attack error by App State created a 19-19 tie.
The next four following possessions were traded (21-21).
Crawford and Ava Torrance connected on an incredible hustle play, leading to a big block by Carney and Dior Charles.
- A sneak kill by Rian Baker put Wake Forest at set point.
The Mountaineers suffered a bad set and the Deacons completed an impressive second-set comeback, 25-21, to even the match at 1-1.
- Crawford seized control during the period, sitting at 10 kills and seven digs by the conclusion of set two.
The same story of 'seesaw play' continued into the third set, with Ogogor taking charge.
Action was tied a few times early, resting at 8-8.
Aces by Torrance and Emma Farrell allowed Wake Forest to step ahead 13-10.
Carney and Ogogor mounted a 3-0 surge and the Deacs built their lead to 16-12, as App State took a timeout.
- Ogogor next delivered her second ace of the evening.
The Mountaineers tried to make something happen out of a few rallies, narrowing the score to 20-19 with Wake Forest hanging on.
Crawford assisted on two blocks, with Charles and Ogogor apiece, stretching the advantage to 22-19.
App State scored twice more before Fish rung a kill.
The margin was briefly tied at 23 all before Crawford put Wake Forest at set point.
Play went into extra points, as great defensive play by the Deacs resulted in Carney hammering a kill (25-25).
App State needed just enough to escape on a 27-25 finish in the third.
- Ogogor went 4-of-7 (one error) in her attacks for the frame while Farrell scooped six digs.
Charles leaped through the middle to sink a hit for Wake Forest's first point of set four.
Lead changes were constantly flipped in the period's early stages, 7-7.
Carney knotted a nice hit from the left side of the floor to give her Deacs a small 10-9 lead.
A block in the middle by a Mountaineer saw the scoreboard tied at 12-12.
Ten more possessions were up for grabs, as a handful of Deacs chipped in kills.
Three unanswered points by App State evened the set at 19 all.
- Charles next floated for a soft touch, followed by Crawford and Carney on hits (22-19).
Wake Forest only allowed one final point, as Crawford went back-to-back on kills to put set four to rest, 25-20.
- The most tied scores of the night happened during the period (12).
- Baker had nine assists and six digs in the set.
A block by Baker and Charles began the fifth.
- The latter next slammed in a kill and then App State committed an error on a following hit to give Wake Forest a 3-0 start.
Baker reeled an ace, and the Mountaineers took a break to talk things through, down 5-1.
After Audrey Douglas bounced a kill, App State scored on four of its next five looks.
App State went up 8-7, as the two sides flipped ends of the court.
Wake Forest responded with tenacious defense, tallying blocks for a regain of the lead, 11-8.
Ogogor then clocked two kills in consecutive fashion.
Nevertheless, App State refused to go away quietly, putting together a 4-1 push to only trail by one, 13-12.
Crawford tapped a kill for match point.
Baker and Ogogor made a final block to finish the deed with the Deacs on top, 15-12 in set five.
Wake Forest defeated App State, 3-2.

Standout Stats

Paige Crawford exploded for her second double-double of the fall, plugging in a match-best 20 kills and 17 digs.
- The Wimberley, Texas' first double-double happened versus Grand Canyon (Aug. 27) – 10 kills and 11 digs.
Wake Forest had the upper hand in multiple statistical categories over App State:
- Points: 83.0 to 73.0
- Kills: 61 to 54
- Blocks: 14 to 10
- Assists: 56 to 52
- Digs: 76 to 75
Several Deacons either reached new season highs or tied best marks:
- Emmy Ogogor – 7 blocks (season high)
- Paige Crawford – 17 digs (career and season high)
- Rian Baker – 14 digs (season high)
- Ava Carney – 9 digs (season high)
- Emmy Ogogor – 14 kills (season high and tied for career best)
Ava Carney added 11 kills – her seventh performance of 11 or more this year.

Additional Notes

Paige Crawford is nearing her 500th career kill, needing only 29 more.
Wake Forest has won eight of its last nine matchups against App State.
The Deacs are 4-1 in neutral-site contests this year.
Wake Forest is currently 35-8 versus non-conference competition in the head coach Randi Smart era.

From Coach Smart

"What a battle," said head coach Randi Smart. "That match took much fight and effort all night long, and I'm very proud of how we hung in there to get the win. The way we responded after the third set was a major point. Everybody contributed in one way or another and I felt defensively we made several big plays. We'll have to refuel for another quick turnaround tomorrow afternoon."

Up Next

Wake Forest has one more test in the Davidson Invitational – matched against the host Wildcats tomorrow (Sept. 16) at 4 p.m. ET. The afternoon contest will be streamed on ESPN+.

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Crawford and Ogogor Shine as Deacs Finish Victorious in Five-Set Friday Victory Over Mountaineers

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Team Stats

Paige Crawford

Ogogor Emmy

Carney Ava

Rian Baker

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Audrey Douglas

Emma Farrell

Olivia Fish

Emmy Ogogor

Ava Torrance

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Crawford and Ogogor Shine as Deacs Finish Victorious in Five-Set Friday Victory Over Mountaineers

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Team Stats

Game Leaders

Paige Crawford

Ogogor Emmy

Carney Ava

Rian Baker

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Rian Baker

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Audrey Douglas

Emma Farrell

Olivia Fish

Emmy Ogogor

Ava Torrance

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