This Week in Wake Forest Women’s Athletics – Presented by Truist (Sept. 4-Sept 10.)
9/5/2023 2:31:00 PM | Field Hockey, General, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball
This weekly feature is brought to you by Truist - The Presenting Partner of Wake Forest Women’s Athletics.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Truist, a longstanding partner of Wake Forest University who is An Official Banking Partner of Wake Forest Athletics and the Presenting Partner of Wake Forest Women's Athletics brings Deacon Nation this weekly update from the Demon Deacons women's programs:
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country, and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $574 billion as of March 31, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
About Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 5 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 56 conference titles and are one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships, along with Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Syracuse and Florida State. Additionally, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which includes 1.3M residents and was ranked as ESPN's seventh-best market from a viewership perspective.
Specifically since Aug. 1, 2019, Wake Forest has been the fastest growing and hottest brand in the Power 5 (and the ACC), with a 115 percent growth in its fan base during this span. Across the nation, over 2.7 million people now identify as Wake Forest fans, which ranks ninth in the league and ahead of Virginia Tech and just trailing NC State.
Academically, Wake Forest University is ranked in the Top 30 Nationally by US News and World Report for the past 27 years (and counting) and ranked 21st Nationally in Undergraduate Teaching according to the 2022-23 US News and World Report. Wake Forest's comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school and an innovative department of engineering. Additionally, Wake Forest holds campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, DC – providing academic offerings across the southeast.
Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.
- Field Hockey:
- Starting on Thursday, Sept. 7, the Wake Forest field hockey program will be hosting a celebration weekend in honor of the three-peat national titles Coach Averill and the Deacs won from 2002-2004. The weekend will begin with a social hour on Thursday ahead of the official reunion celebration party on Friday, Sept. 8.
- Saturday, Sept. 9, there will be a Reunion tailgate ahead of the football game against Vanderbilt, where coach Averill will lead the Demon Deacon football team onto the field as the Open the Gate honoree.
- The weekend will conclude with a tailgate on Sunday for the Wake Forest vs. App State field hockey game at 12 p.m. inside Kentner Stadium.
- Volleyball:
- Wake Forest volleyball stands at 6-0 overall this fall after enjoying a 3-0 weekend spent in Orlando, partaking in the Knights' hosted 2023 UCF Challenge.
- The Demon Deacons picked up wins over Alabama State, UCF and FIU through three days of competition.
- The win over the host Knights snapped a 22-win streak at home for UCF that started back in 2021.
- Senior middle blocker Olivia Franke reached her 500th career kill during the win over Alabama State.
- Making her first collegiate start in the contest versus UCF, freshman outside hitter Olivia Fish shined with a match-high 17 kills on an exceptional .485 hitting percentage.
- Wake Forest heads South to Georgia later this week for Kennesaw State's 2023 invitational (Sept. 8-10).
- Matchups against the host Owls, Western Michigan and Mississippi State are set to take place.
- Wake Forest volleyball stands at 6-0 overall this fall after enjoying a 3-0 weekend spent in Orlando, partaking in the Knights' hosted 2023 UCF Challenge.
- Women's Soccer:
- The Demon Deacons are off to an impressive 5-0-1 start with road victories over Purdue and Auburn.
- The Deacs are boasting a 22-match unbeaten streak against non-conference opponents heading into their final non-conference matches of the season against Rhode Island and Brown.
- Wake Forest currently ranks third in the ACC and ninth nationally with 21.5 shots per game, while ranking third nationally with a .167 GAA.
- Of note, the Demon Deacons have allowed only one goal this season over their first six matches.
- Individually, the Deacs have been paced by junior midfielder Nikayla Small who ranks eighth nationally with five assists.
- The Demon Deacons are off to an impressive 5-0-1 start with road victories over Purdue and Auburn.
- Women's Cross Country:
- After a successful exhibition against UNC Greensboro last week, the Demon Deacons are gearing up for their first true test of the 2023 campaign when they travel to Boone for the Covered Bridge Open next week (Sept. 15).
- Coming into this season, Wake Forest was picked to finish eighth in the 2023 ACC Cross Country Coaches Preseason Poll.
- Women's Golf:
- The preseason No. 2 Demon Deacons open their fall slate next week at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in Lake Elmo, Minn.
- Wake Forest has won the event twice in the past three installments, taking home the team titles in 2019 and 2022 (not played in 2020 due to the pandemic).
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country, and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $574 billion as of March 31, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
About Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 5 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 56 conference titles and are one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships, along with Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Syracuse and Florida State. Additionally, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which includes 1.3M residents and was ranked as ESPN's seventh-best market from a viewership perspective.
Specifically since Aug. 1, 2019, Wake Forest has been the fastest growing and hottest brand in the Power 5 (and the ACC), with a 115 percent growth in its fan base during this span. Across the nation, over 2.7 million people now identify as Wake Forest fans, which ranks ninth in the league and ahead of Virginia Tech and just trailing NC State.
Academically, Wake Forest University is ranked in the Top 30 Nationally by US News and World Report for the past 27 years (and counting) and ranked 21st Nationally in Undergraduate Teaching according to the 2022-23 US News and World Report. Wake Forest's comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school and an innovative department of engineering. Additionally, Wake Forest holds campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, DC – providing academic offerings across the southeast.
Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.
Players Mentioned
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
Midfielder
/ Women's SoccerFootball Media Availability (9/18/25)
Thursday, September 18
Matt 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