Sunday, September 3
Orlando, Fla.
1 P.M.
Wake Forest University
6-0,0-0ACC
3
vs
0
FIU
2-5,0-0CUSA
1
2
3
F
Wake Forest
25
25
25
3
FIU
20
21
10
0
Wake Forest Sweeps Panthers to Finish Undefeated in 2023 UCF Challenge.
9/3/2023 3:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Deacs are off to a 6-0 start in 2023!
ORLANDO, Fla. – Tournament play for Wake Forest volleyball officially came to a close on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 3), as the Demon Deacons (6-0) defeated Florida International (2-5) in a 3-0 sweep during the final day of Central Florida's 2023 UCF Challenge.
Wake Forest went 3-0 for the three days spent in Orlando. It was the team's second weekend of going undefeated, first sweeping its own hosted invitational (Aug. 25-27).
The Demon Deacons' 6-0 overall clip is a best start since 2019 when the program won the first seven contests.
Wake Forest is currently tied with Virginia Tech for the best current record among all Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) member schools.
Paige Crawford was a usual enforcer, leading her Deacs in kills for the third straight day (14). She again played a strong defensive role as well, collecting eight digs.
Making her first start with the Deacons, graduate student Ava Torrance led all in digs (13), reaching a new career high, and added two service aces. Emma Farrell contributed 12 digs.
Ava Carney and Emmy Ogogor were both efficient hitters during the afternoon, posting 12 kills (.478) and 10 kills (.438), respectively. Ogogor also made five blocks.
Rian Baker paced the offense with 36 assists – her fourth showing of 35 or more in that category.
Crawford was named Most Valuable Player of the invitational, while Ogogor earned All-Tournament Team honors.
Wake Forest outperformed FIU in points, kills, aces, assists, and digs.
How it Happened
Standout Stats
Additional Notes
From Coach Smart
"Today was an excellent way to finish off the weekend," said head coach Randi Smart. "FIU is a competitive team, and I told our group that it would require even more focus from us in the quick turnaround after last night. We found ways to earn points nicely in the first two sets and then everyone brought great energy to the third. It was a fun match and overall three days. We'll look to get back, keep working, and get ready for another weekend out of state next."
Up Next
The Deacs head South for week three of the season, participating in Kennesaw State's invitational (Sept. 8-10). The team will take on the host Owls, Western Michigan, and Mississippi State.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Wake Forest went 3-0 for the three days spent in Orlando. It was the team's second weekend of going undefeated, first sweeping its own hosted invitational (Aug. 25-27).
The Demon Deacons' 6-0 overall clip is a best start since 2019 when the program won the first seven contests.
Wake Forest is currently tied with Virginia Tech for the best current record among all Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) member schools.
Paige Crawford was a usual enforcer, leading her Deacs in kills for the third straight day (14). She again played a strong defensive role as well, collecting eight digs.
Making her first start with the Deacons, graduate student Ava Torrance led all in digs (13), reaching a new career high, and added two service aces. Emma Farrell contributed 12 digs.
Ava Carney and Emmy Ogogor were both efficient hitters during the afternoon, posting 12 kills (.478) and 10 kills (.438), respectively. Ogogor also made five blocks.
Rian Baker paced the offense with 36 assists – her fourth showing of 35 or more in that category.
Crawford was named Most Valuable Player of the invitational, while Ogogor earned All-Tournament Team honors.
Wake Forest outperformed FIU in points, kills, aces, assists, and digs.
How it Happened
- Emmy Ogogor struck first for Wake Forest, opening the match with a solo block and kill.
- Ava Carney then checked in to clock two immediate kills.
- Two FIU panthers made a block to tie the first at 5 all.
- Olivia Franke responded with a swift hit in the middle.
- A few ties then took place before Ogogor and Paige Crawford netted a kill apiece to put Wake Forest up 10-8.
- The Panthers subsequently took a timeout.
- Aces by Crawford and Ava Torrance helped stretch the Deacon lead to 15-10 in set one.
- After Carney flew in to put her squad up by seven points, FIU called for another timeout.
- The Panthers jumped on a 4-0 run afterward, leading to Wake Forest taking a floor break.
- Nevertheless, the Deacs had an answer in Crawford.
- Following a couple of traded rallies, the sophomore racked up a flurry of kills, as Wake Forest reached set point.
- An FIU service error ultimately gave the Black and Old Gold a 25-20 win in the first.
- Torrance was a defensive spark with seven digs.
- An FIU service error ultimately gave the Black and Old Gold a 25-20 win in the first.
- Following a couple of traded rallies, the sophomore racked up a flurry of kills, as Wake Forest reached set point.
- Carney leaped from the left side of the floor to punch a ball and create a 3-3 tie.
- Baker gave Wake Forest its first lead of the second right after, sneaking a kill.
- Back-and-forth action made up the set's early portion, with the score resting at 7 even.
- Fish, Crawford and Kalani Whillock stayed aggressive to give Wake Forest consecutive points, leading by three midway in set two.
- Franke hit in two kills, back-to-back, but FIU was able to cut the lead to one point.
- Crawford muscled in another kill prior to the media timeout, with Wake Forest ahead, 15-13.
- Kendall Phillips checked in for the Deacs.
- Crawford muscled in another kill prior to the media timeout, with Wake Forest ahead, 15-13.
- A beautiful set up by Whillock to Crawford increased the advantage to 18-14, resulting in a Panther timeout.
- Ogogor and Carney next took turns on opposite sides of the floor, keeping Wake Forest narrowly in front, 22-21.
- The latter slammed a kill on a patient rally and then Crawford tipped one in to place the team at set point.
- A sophomore connection of Emma Farrell to Crawford ended the frame, 25-21.
- Wake Forest stayed hot entering the third, as Ogogor especially played a role in a 10-0 start.
- FIU scored its first points of the period on a rejection at the net, followed by a reach kill.
- Carney continued the lively display for Wake Forest, extending the margin to 14-4.
- Audrey Douglas and Ashley Slater soon checked in for the Deacons.
- Kills by the former and Franke put Wake Forest at 19-8.
- Torrance sent in another ace.
- Kills by the former and Franke put Wake Forest at 19-8.
- Audrey Douglas and Ashley Slater soon checked in for the Deacons.
- Ogogor registered a kill from the right side and Carney made a block to seal the deal.
- Wake Forest swept FIU, 3-0.
Standout Stats
- Ava Torrance shined in her first start for the Deacs, tallying a match-best 13 digs while handing out two service aces.
- Paige Crawford ended as the team leader in kills for the third and final time this weekend:
- vs. Alabama State – 17
- vs. Central Florida – 15
- vs. Florida International – 14
- Wake Forest held the upper hand versus FIU in five major statistical categories:
- Points: 54.0 to 37.0
- Kills: 45 to 29
- Service Aces: 3 to 1
- Assists: 41 to 26
- Digs: 45 to 30
- Ava Carney recorded 12 kills on the day to reach her fourth consecutive match of double-figures in that area.
Additional Notes
- Wake Forest's 6-0 start is its best in a single season since 2019.
- At the moment, the team's mark is tied with Virginia Tech for the top spot in ACC standings.
- Ava Torrance and Kalani Whillock made their first season starts.
- Paige Crawford led Wake Forest in kills for each of the invitational's three contests, averaging 15.3 per match along with 8.7 digs.
- Rian Baker totaled 123 assists in three days.
- Ava Carney has tallied 11 or more kills in each of her last four appearances.
- Wake Forest has upped its overall record versus non-conference foes, in the head coach Randi Smart era, to 33-6.
From Coach Smart
"Today was an excellent way to finish off the weekend," said head coach Randi Smart. "FIU is a competitive team, and I told our group that it would require even more focus from us in the quick turnaround after last night. We found ways to earn points nicely in the first two sets and then everyone brought great energy to the third. It was a fun match and overall three days. We'll look to get back, keep working, and get ready for another weekend out of state next."
Up Next
The Deacs head South for week three of the season, participating in Kennesaw State's invitational (Sept. 8-10). The team will take on the host Owls, Western Michigan, and Mississippi State.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Team Stats
WF
FIU
Kills
45
29
Errors
13
17
Attempts
99
99
Hitting %
.323
.121
Points
54.0
37.0
Assists
41
26
Aces
3
1
Blocks
6
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/OH
/ Women's VolleyballMatt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10
Wake Forest Football vs Western Carolina | Cinematic Recap
Tuesday, September 09