Deacs Hang On For Five-Set Thriller Over Host Knights in 2023 UCF Challenge

ORLANDO, Fla. – Intensity persisted all night long in Orlando during Wake Forest volleyball's second day in the 2023 University of Central Florida (UCF) Challenge, as the team was tested against the host Knights (5-1). Keeping a balanced fight through five sets, the Demon Deacons rallied through for a 3-2 victory to stay undefeated this fall.

Wake Forest moved to a 5-0 overall clip, its best since 2019.

The win included Wake Forest handing UCF its first loss of the season, along with snapping a 22-match win streak at home that began back in 2021.

Sophomore setter Rian Baker reached a new career-high in kills during the evening, finishing with 48. She surpassed her previous mark of 46 set against Kennesaw State last year (Aug. 27, 2022). Baker also had eight digs and three kills.

Making her first collegiate start, freshman outside hitter Olivia Fish had herself a game – leading all individuals with 17 kills on an exceptional .485 hitting mark. Paige Crawford was close to recording a double-double: 15 kills and nine digs. The sophomore's total in kills was her third-highest of the year.

Freshman Ava Carney stepped up in the moment to provide the match-winning point on an outside kill, finishing with 11 of those.

Emmy Ogogor was a steady two-way presence, tallying nine kills (.571) and a team-high five blocks.

For the fourth time in her first five appearances, Emma Farrell was the match leader in digs (19). Kalani Whillock contributed nine of her own.

Wake Forest collected more digs than the Knights (55-52).

How it Happened

Olivia Fish was first to place Wake Forest on the scoreboard, nailing a kill from the right.
- Paige Crawford followed with one of her own on the ensuing possession.
Crawford enjoyed a hot hand early, helping give her Deacs a 7-4 start in the first.
Ogogor then stepped in to deliver a couple of strong hits, as points were traded and Wake Forest stayed in front, 11-8.
A quick 3-1 push by Wake Forest led right into the night's first media timeout, with the Deacs leading 15-12 at the time of play.
Central Florida saw some success following the floor break, scoring on four of six chances and making the opening set a one-point game.
- As a response, Rian Baker threw in her second kill of the contest.
After UCF added on two consecutive points, Fish went on a back-to-back spurt, upping the Deacon lead to 22-19.
The Knights committed a service error next, followed by yet another Crawford punch.
Cleaning up a service error, Wake Forest saw Ogogor put the first set to rest on a patient kill right at the net.
Wake Forest took set one, 25-21.
- Crawford exploded for a 7-of-13 clip on attacks (.538).
A ball pounded by Olivia Franke highlighted a 4-1 start by the Deacs in set two.
UCF was able to creep back into the deficit soon, trailing only 6-5.
The margin ultimately became tied at 8-8.
- A right-side kill and solo block by Ogogor allowed Wake Forest to immediately regain the slight lead.
Back-and-forth play took place, as the two Olivias (Franke and Fish) gave Wake Forest points.
- The Deacons forced UCF to talk things over in a timeout, holding a 12-10 advantage.
Three different Deacs rang in a kill apiece in the midst of a 5-0 run that followed.
- Things continued in Wake Forest's favor, as the board read 17-11.
  - Kalani Whillock sent in a service ace right after the next timeout.
    - Franke followed with her own ace.
A 6-2 run by the Black and Old Gold wrapped the second, as Ogogor again answered on the final point with a kill.
Wake Forest won set two, 25-14.
- Rian Baker had 22 assists and five digs during two periods played.
- The Deacons were on fire in their hitting game, plugging in a sizzling .492 hitting percentage.
Beginning the third set, UCF held a 4-0 mark.
- Ava Carney timed a swing perfectly to earn a first point of the set for Wake Forest.
After the hosts went up 9-3 on an ace, the Deacs took time to regroup.
The Knights suffered a few errors, as Wake Forest fought through a four-point deficit.
Nevertheless, UCF seized momentum again, putting together a 5-0 boost to jump ahead 18-10.
- Ashley Slater soon checked in for the Deacs for her first season appearance.
Wake Forest put up one more point, but UCF stayed in control to finish out set three, 25-11.
A crafted Fish kill got things going in set four.
UCF responded with a 4-1 run, soon holding a 5-3 nod once a challenge happened on the court.
Aggressive actions by Ogogor helped Wake Forest stay close, 8-7.
- The Knights tacked on three more points in a row, resulting in a Deacon timeout.
Carney exploded for an outside kill next, and Whillock lined up a nice serve.
UCF grew its lead to 17-10 with a 6-1 surge.
Crawford had a quick sequence of a kill and ace.
Carney and Ogogor joined in with Crawford to give Wake Forest a few more points – the team finding itself on a 5-1 push.
Still, the Knights were able to complete another set victory, 25-19.
- Emma Farrell was highly active in the frame, defensively, gathering eight digs.
  - Fish posted four kills.
Kills by Baker and Crawford kicked off the fifth for Wake Forest.
UCF tied things at 3 all before netting two consecutive points.
Wake Forest came back swinging, with Carney clocking in hits and tying the margin again, 6-6.
UCF took two additional points in a row, as the two sides switched ends on the floor.
Fish hammered two kills and a block by Crawford/Ogogor again evened the frame, 9-9.
- The freshman, along with Crawford and an Ava Torrance ace, bumped Wake Forest up to 12-10.
Two possessions were traded, and an Ogogor block put the Deacs at match point.
Carney flew in to clinch the night for Wake Forest, 15-11.
- Set five featured six tied scores.
Wake Forest defeated Central Florida, 3-2.

Standout Stats

Three Deacs registered double-figures in kills.
- Olivia Fish – 17
- Paige Crawford – 15
- Ava Carney – 11
Finishing with 19 digs on the night, Emma Farrell has led all individuals in that such category in four of Wake Forest's first five matches.
- Four other Deacs totaled six or more digs:
  - Kalani Whillock – 9
  - Paige Crawford – 9
  - Rian Baker – 8
  - Ava Torrance – 6
Olivia Fish paced all players in kills (17) while notching a new personal, season-high.

Additional Notes

Saturday night involved the first collegiate start for Olivia Fish.
Ashley Slater made her first season appearance of 2023.
Wake Forest holds a 259-197 advantage in kills versus its first five opponents.
The Deacs continue to strengthen its overall record versus non-conference foes in the head coach Randi Smart era, now at 32-6.

From Coach Smart

"Wow - what a great volleyball match!" said head coach Randi Smart. "We knew coming in that UCF would be a tough team to face in a competitive environment. I was very proud of how we started and then kept our composure leading up to the fifth set. Excellent performance by our hitters, a new career-high for Rian and it was great to see three players with eight or more digs. This is a big-time win for us, especially in a place like this. Now, we have to be mature heading into tomorrow afternoon and face a gritty FIU program. Time to rest and reset!"

Up Next

Wake Forest concludes its weekend in Orlando tomorrow (Sept. 3) with a final matchup against Florida International. Action is set to get underway at 1 p.m. ET.

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Deacs Hang On For Five-Set Thriller Over Host Knights in 2023 UCF Challenge

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Team Stats

Olivia Fish

Paige Crawford

Carney Ava

Ogogor Emmy

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Paige Crawford

Emma Farrell

Olivia Fish

Olivia Franke

Emmy Ogogor

Ashley Slater

Ava Torrance

Kalani Whillock

Wake Forest Athletics

Deacs Hang On For Five-Set Thriller Over Host Knights in 2023 UCF Challenge

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Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Olivia Fish

Paige Crawford

Carney Ava

Ogogor Emmy

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Paige Crawford

Emma Farrell

Olivia Fish

Olivia Franke

Emmy Ogogor

Ashley Slater

Ava Torrance

Kalani Whillock

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