Friday, September 22
Winston-Salem, N.C.
7 P.M.
Wake Forest University
vs
Miami
Deacs Return Home For Start of ACC Play, Hosting Hurricanes and Seminoles
9/21/2023 11:22:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Match action is back in Varsity Arena!
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – With the fall's non-conference portion officially closed, Wake Forest volleyball now turns its attention to the opening stages of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, marking the start of a two-week home tilt.
Opponents from The Sunshine State enter in the mix first, as the Demon Deacons host Miami on Friday (Sept. 22), followed by a Sunday afternoon matchup versus Florida State (Sept. 24).
Live stats will be available for both matches and fans can tune into Sunday's contest against the Seminoles on ACC Network Extra.
Family Weekend headlines Friday through Sunday for Wake Forest University.
The Deacs are 9-2 overall on the year – their best start since the 2019 season.
The Matches
Friday, Sept. 22
Wake Forest vs. Miami – 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 24
Wake Forest vs. Florida State – 1 p.m. ET
Fan Information
Admission is free for all Wake Forest volleyball home matches. The team plays each home contest in Varsity Arena, located on the second level of Reynolds Gymnasium (21 Wingate Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27109).
Last Time Out
Wake Forest spent its final weekend of non-conference play in the 2023 Davidson Invitational:
Match One (Friday, Sept. 15) – Wake Forest 3, App State 2
Focused for the start of its final non-conference weekend of the 2023 regular season, Wake Forest 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.
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).
Match Two (Saturday, Sept. 16) – Wake Forest 3, Davidson 2
Matched against the Davidson Wildcats (8-2) for the first time since the 2022 postseason, Wake Forest volleyball (9-2) again steadied focus as a whole through five sets of competitive action and earned a 3-2 win on Saturday evening (Sept. 16).
The feat secured a third weekend sweep of 2023 for the Demon Deacons, as the team officially wrapped non-conference play.
A fourth season double-double happened by Rian Baker, including a new career high in assists (50), along with 13 digs. The sophomore added three kills and two service aces as well.
Saturday marked the second time this year in which four Wake Forest individuals notched double-digits for kills: Ava Carney (13), Paige Crawford (12), Emmy Ogogor (11) and Dior Charles (10).
Charles' total in kills was her best of the season. She finished as the most efficient Deac, hitting .389 from the floor, and made five blocks. Crawford and Carney also impressed defensively, each garnering nine digs.
Emma Farrell posted a match-best 20 digs – the 13th time in her career where she's recorded 20 or more. Ava Torrance tied her career high in digs with 13.
Olivia Fish chipped in seven kills and a season-high six blocks.
Wake Forest totaled more aces (9-5) and blocks (10-9) than Davidson.
Setting Everyone Up
Currently the team leader in double-doubles for Wake Forest, sophomore setter Rian Baker's such performances include:
The Rolling Meadows, Illinois, native's mark in assists at Davidson was a new career high. A day earlier, versus App State in a thrilling, five-set victory, she threw in a career-best five kills while adding a season-high 14 digs, five blocks and two service aces in addition to her 43 assists that led all individuals.
Baker is 41 assists away from reaching 1,000 in her young career.
Charles' Return
Ever since making a return to the hardwood on Sept. 9 after missing three consecutive matches due to injury, freshman middle blocker Dior Charles has brought along an impact with efficiency. Inserted back into the starting lineup, she recently placed within the ACC's top-10 in blocks for all individuals, currently resting at No. 8 with a 1.16 per-set average. In her most recent appearance, Charles recorded a season-high 10 kills to go along with five blocks. She has totaled a combined 18 blocks in her last three showings and stands second on the Wake Forest roster in that category.
Four Weeks In …
Wake Forest is tied for sixth in the ACC team standings as of Thursday (Sept. 21) while also ranking sixth in hitting percentage as a unit (.259).
Several Deacs continue to hold top-10 spots within various individual statistical lists:
Additional Notes
Series History
Versus Miami
Versus Florida State
Scouting the Opposition
Miami is 7-3 overall at the moment after sweeping Stetson and Jacksonville in a Saturday doubleheader this past weekend (Sept. 16). For their efforts, Angela Grieve and Savannah Vach claimed ACC Player of the Week and Setter of the Week honors, respectively, announced on Monday (Sept. 18). Grieve ranks high in the ACC and NCAA leaderboards – currently No. 2 in attacks-per-set within the league (19th in NCAA) – the same being in kills-per-set among all conference players (22nd in NCAA) and also points-per-set (18th in NCAA). Vach, meanwhile, has led the ACC in assists-per-set (10.64) to also rank No. 24 in the NCAA. Janice Leao has established herself as one the conference's top net protectors, tied for third in blocks (1.43/set). The graduate student was named to the 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team back in early August. Vach, Grieve and sophomore libero Naylani Feliciano have all collected 73 or more digs thus far.
Florida State holds a 6-6 overall clip and visits Virginia Tech on Friday (Sept. 22). Audrey Koenig and Khori Louis lead the Seminoles in kills with 114 and 102, respectively. The latter also acts as the team's most efficient attacker – being third in hitting percentage among all ACC players (.452). Kiari Robey is seventh within that same statistical column (.440) and third on the squad in total kills (89). Koenig averages 3.26 kills a set; good for the tenth-highest mark in the league. Defensively, Kyleene Filimaua has registered 117 digs in 38 sets played while Robey paces FSU in blocks (37).
Up Next
The Deacons will remain at home next weekend, hosting Clemson (Sept. 29) and No. 13 Georgia Tech (Oct. 1). The program's annual 'Dig Pink' match is scheduled for the Clemson contest, while a theme of Mental Health Awareness takes place for the Georgia Tech outing.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Opponents from The Sunshine State enter in the mix first, as the Demon Deacons host Miami on Friday (Sept. 22), followed by a Sunday afternoon matchup versus Florida State (Sept. 24).
Live stats will be available for both matches and fans can tune into Sunday's contest against the Seminoles on ACC Network Extra.
Family Weekend headlines Friday through Sunday for Wake Forest University.
The Deacs are 9-2 overall on the year – their best start since the 2019 season.
The Matches
Friday, Sept. 22
Wake Forest vs. Miami – 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 24
Wake Forest vs. Florida State – 1 p.m. ET
Fan Information
Admission is free for all Wake Forest volleyball home matches. The team plays each home contest in Varsity Arena, located on the second level of Reynolds Gymnasium (21 Wingate Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27109).
Last Time Out
Wake Forest spent its final weekend of non-conference play in the 2023 Davidson Invitational:
Match One (Friday, Sept. 15) – Wake Forest 3, App State 2
Focused for the start of its final non-conference weekend of the 2023 regular season, Wake Forest 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.
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).
Match Two (Saturday, Sept. 16) – Wake Forest 3, Davidson 2
Matched against the Davidson Wildcats (8-2) for the first time since the 2022 postseason, Wake Forest volleyball (9-2) again steadied focus as a whole through five sets of competitive action and earned a 3-2 win on Saturday evening (Sept. 16).
The feat secured a third weekend sweep of 2023 for the Demon Deacons, as the team officially wrapped non-conference play.
A fourth season double-double happened by Rian Baker, including a new career high in assists (50), along with 13 digs. The sophomore added three kills and two service aces as well.
Saturday marked the second time this year in which four Wake Forest individuals notched double-digits for kills: Ava Carney (13), Paige Crawford (12), Emmy Ogogor (11) and Dior Charles (10).
Charles' total in kills was her best of the season. She finished as the most efficient Deac, hitting .389 from the floor, and made five blocks. Crawford and Carney also impressed defensively, each garnering nine digs.
Emma Farrell posted a match-best 20 digs – the 13th time in her career where she's recorded 20 or more. Ava Torrance tied her career high in digs with 13.
Olivia Fish chipped in seven kills and a season-high six blocks.
Wake Forest totaled more aces (9-5) and blocks (10-9) than Davidson.
Setting Everyone Up
Currently the team leader in double-doubles for Wake Forest, sophomore setter Rian Baker's such performances include:
- At Davidson (9/16/23): 50 assists and 13 digs
- Versus App State (9/15/23): 43 assists and 14 digs
- At Kennesaw State (9/8/23): 44 assists and 13 digs
- Versus Grand Canyon (8/27/23): 43 assists and 10 digs
The Rolling Meadows, Illinois, native's mark in assists at Davidson was a new career high. A day earlier, versus App State in a thrilling, five-set victory, she threw in a career-best five kills while adding a season-high 14 digs, five blocks and two service aces in addition to her 43 assists that led all individuals.
Baker is 41 assists away from reaching 1,000 in her young career.
Charles' Return
Ever since making a return to the hardwood on Sept. 9 after missing three consecutive matches due to injury, freshman middle blocker Dior Charles has brought along an impact with efficiency. Inserted back into the starting lineup, she recently placed within the ACC's top-10 in blocks for all individuals, currently resting at No. 8 with a 1.16 per-set average. In her most recent appearance, Charles recorded a season-high 10 kills to go along with five blocks. She has totaled a combined 18 blocks in her last three showings and stands second on the Wake Forest roster in that category.
Four Weeks In …
Wake Forest is tied for sixth in the ACC team standings as of Thursday (Sept. 21) while also ranking sixth in hitting percentage as a unit (.259).
Several Deacs continue to hold top-10 spots within various individual statistical lists:
- Rian Baker – 4th in assists (9.89/set)
- Dior Charles – 7th in blocks (1.16/set)
- Olivia Franke – 9th in hitting percentage (.412)
- Emma Farrell – 10th in digs (3.82/set)
- Emmy Ogogor – 10th in hitting percentage (.401)
Additional Notes
- Finishing its 2023 non-conference slate on a 9-2 record, Wake Forest is currently 36-8 against such opponents in the regular season throughout the head coach Randi Smart era.
- Paige Crawford is nearing her 500th career kill, needing only 17 more.
- Emmy Ogogor shined in the 2023 Davidson Invitational, totaling 25 kills in 10 total sets – her most in a weekend this year.
- Freshman outside hitter Ava Carney has notched 11 or more kills in eight of her last nine showings.
- Ava Torrance has tied her career high in digs (13) twice this fall already, happening versus Florida International (Sept. 3) and at Davidson (Sept. 16).
Series History
Versus Miami
- Series: Miami leads, 25-6
- Last Time: Oct. 21, 2022
- Result: L, 0-3
Versus Florida State
- Series: Florida State leads, 38-7
- Last Time: Oct. 23, 2022
- Result: L, 0-3
Scouting the Opposition
Miami is 7-3 overall at the moment after sweeping Stetson and Jacksonville in a Saturday doubleheader this past weekend (Sept. 16). For their efforts, Angela Grieve and Savannah Vach claimed ACC Player of the Week and Setter of the Week honors, respectively, announced on Monday (Sept. 18). Grieve ranks high in the ACC and NCAA leaderboards – currently No. 2 in attacks-per-set within the league (19th in NCAA) – the same being in kills-per-set among all conference players (22nd in NCAA) and also points-per-set (18th in NCAA). Vach, meanwhile, has led the ACC in assists-per-set (10.64) to also rank No. 24 in the NCAA. Janice Leao has established herself as one the conference's top net protectors, tied for third in blocks (1.43/set). The graduate student was named to the 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team back in early August. Vach, Grieve and sophomore libero Naylani Feliciano have all collected 73 or more digs thus far.
Florida State holds a 6-6 overall clip and visits Virginia Tech on Friday (Sept. 22). Audrey Koenig and Khori Louis lead the Seminoles in kills with 114 and 102, respectively. The latter also acts as the team's most efficient attacker – being third in hitting percentage among all ACC players (.452). Kiari Robey is seventh within that same statistical column (.440) and third on the squad in total kills (89). Koenig averages 3.26 kills a set; good for the tenth-highest mark in the league. Defensively, Kyleene Filimaua has registered 117 digs in 38 sets played while Robey paces FSU in blocks (37).
Up Next
The Deacons will remain at home next weekend, hosting Clemson (Sept. 29) and No. 13 Georgia Tech (Oct. 1). The program's annual 'Dig Pink' match is scheduled for the Clemson contest, while a theme of Mental Health Awareness takes place for the Georgia Tech outing.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Players Mentioned
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MB/RS
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DS
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