Deacons Tack Three-Straight Sets En Route to Home Win Over Miami in ACC Opener

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Fresh and finally back at home following a three-week road stretch and the conclusion of non-conference action, Wake Forest volleyball (10-2, 1-0) came to play in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener, downing Miami (7-4, 0-1) in a 3-1 victory inside an energetic Varsity Arena. After falling short in set one, the Demon Deacons stormed back through the next three, capturing the win.

The victory was Wake Forest's first over Miami since Nov. 9, 2018. Additionally, it was the team's first win in a season conference opener since the 2014 campaign. The Deacs' 10-2 start is their best in a single season since 2019.

Friday night included standout sophomore Paige Crawford's 500th career kill, happening near the end of set four on a hit down the middle of the floor. The Wimberley, Texas native recorded a team-high 17 kills on the evening, along with five digs, two blocks and two aces.

Ava Carney shined in one of her most efficient performances of the fall thus far. The freshman hitter totaled 15 kills on a .440 attacking clip while adding five digs.

Rian Baker fell just short of grabbing a third consecutive double-double, finishing with 39 assists and nine digs.

Emmy Ogogor impressed with 10 kills (.381), four blocks and two service aces. Fellow middle blocker, Dior Charles, had five kills and a team-best five blocks.

On the defensive side, Ava Torrance and Emma Farrell posted 12 and 10 digs, respectively. Farrell additionally tossed five assists.

Sharp in their serving game, Wake Forest outperformed the Hurricanes in aces (7-5).

The Deacs have extended their current win streak to four matches.

How it Happened

Dior Charles was the first Deacon to deliver a kill on the night.
- The freshman and classmate Ava Carney next teamed on a block.
A 4-1 start by Wake Forest opened set one.
A three-point lead was maintained through the next few rallies, as Wake Forest went up 7-4.
Miami quickly created a 7-7 tie.
- After the Hurricanes scored on another pair of possessions, the Deacs took their first timeout of the night.
Four consecutive points by the visitors led to Wake Forest's second timeout.
A service error by Miami, followed by a kill apiece from Emmy Ogogor and Carney, placed the Black and Old Gold back in the scoring column.
Paige Crawford slammed a ball from the left to cut the deficit to 17-13 in set one.
Miami placed three more points, but aggressive plays by Crawford and Ogogor, including an ace by Ava Torrance, kept Wake Forest close by, 20-17.
The same type of play continued in seven more possessions, as Ogogor and Charles took charge defensively.
After Charles made a solo rejection at the middle of the net, the Deacons found themselves in a two-point game, trailing only 23-21.
- Miami took a floor break.
Back-to-back kills by the Hurricanes finished out set one, 25-21.
- Charles went 4-of-5 on attacks and chipped in four blocks during the opening frame.
Stepping into the second, freshmen Olivia Fish and Carney produced strong kills to even things early at 4 all before the former and Ogogor made a block to take the lead.
A 5-1 boost by Miami put the team back in front by three.
The two foes traded points afterward.
- Emma Farrell made a nice leap to set up Crawford for a hit and then Carney laced an ace to even the margin (12-12).
At the set's media timeout, Wake Forest narrowly led 15-14.
Carney's skilled play helped keep the action tightly played, 19-19.
Errors by Miami allowed Wake Forest to jump ahead and reach set point, 24-21.
Crawford clocked a ball to finish the deed in set two, 25-23.
- Three Deacs had six or more kills through two periods, led by Carney's seven on a .545 hitting mark.
- Set two featured 14 tied scores.
Wake Forest connected on four of five early possessions in the third to lead 5-4.
Flurries of hard hits went back-and-forth through rallies, with the lead continually being flipped.
Crawford skied and punched a ball home for a 9-9 tie.
'Seesaw play' was steadied through another eight possessions.
Miami was able to find some slight breathing room at the official timeout, 15-13.
Ashley Slater soon checked in and netted a kill.
The Deacons regrouped in a timeout, down 21-15.
- Solid defense led to an Ogogor throw down next.
  - The hit marked the start of a 4-0 run by Wake Forest, trimming things down to 21-19.
After a brief 21-21 knot, Wake Forest stepped in front on an ace by Ogogor (23-22).
Crawford landed a timely hit for set point.
Miami committed a service error to give the Deacs a third-set victory, coincidentally another 25-23 decision.
- Rian Baker had 26 assists and eight digs at the time.
- The board was tied up 12 times during the period.
Momentum for Wake Forest carried right into set four, beginning with a 6-1 start.
Miami responded by catching fire, piecing a 7-1 run for an 8-7 edge.
The Deacons remained competitive, as Slater pounded a kill and had her squad only down one point in the fourth.
- Crawford lined an ace immediately afterward.
  - The sophomore paced the offense that continued to rise in its confidence, reaching her 500th career kill in set four.
Wake Forest stayed poised in a final 5-0 spurt to wrap set four and the evening, 25-20.
The Deacons defeated Miami, 3-1.

Standout Stats

Paige Crawford reached her 500th career kill on her final hit of the night.
Ava Carney was very effective in her attacking display on Friday – tallying 15 hits on a .440 percentage.
In total, three Demon Deacons reached double-figures in kills:
- Paige Crawford – 17
- Ava Carney – 15
- Emmy Ogogor – 10
Rian Baker nearly recorded a third consecutive double-double, ending with 39 assists and nine digs.

Additional Notes

Wake Forest is 4-0 at home this year.
Rian Baker is merely two assists away from reaching 1,000 for her young career.
Freshman outside hitter Ava Carney has notched 11 or more kills in nine of her last ten showings.
With 712 spectators in attendance, Friday night marked the second-biggest number of crowd attendance for the volleyball program this year.

From Coach Smart

"It felt so great to play back at home and in front of another electric crowd," said head coach Randi Smart. "I was so impressed with our team tonight and how we responded with such poise through the final three sets. We kept our composure and flat-out competed until the very end. Most know how tough of a team Miami is, year after year – this was a big, big win for us. Thank you again to everyone who showed up and built the energy. It always makes a difference inside our gym and tonight was no different.

"A big congrats to Paige on her 500th career kill! Paige is such a focused player who consistently gets after it. She has been a major factor since day one and we can't wait to see her continued progression as her college experience furthers on!"

Up Next

Wake Forest is back in action on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 24), primed to face the Florida State Seminoles. First serve is set for 1 p.m. ET and free ice cream will be provided for the first 75 students.

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Deacons Tack Three-Straight Sets En Route to Home Win Over Miami in ACC Opener

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Team Stats

Paige Crawford

Carney Ava

Ogogor Emmy

Dior Charles

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Emma Farrell

Olivia Fish

Emmy Ogogor

Ashley Slater

Ava Torrance

Wake Forest Athletics

Deacons Tack Three-Straight Sets En Route to Home Win Over Miami in ACC Opener

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Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Paige Crawford

Carney Ava

Ogogor Emmy

Dior Charles

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Emma Farrell

Olivia Fish

Emmy Ogogor

Ashley Slater

Ava Torrance

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