Deacs Rout Notre Dame, Capture Fourth Season Match Sweep

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Wake Forest volleyball wrapped its weekend road trip on Sunday (Oct. 20), visiting Notre Dame for an afternoon contest in its eighth Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) showing.The Demon Deacons (11-8, 3-5) played with balanced effort to rout the Fighting Irish (9-8, 2-6) in a 3-0 victory and their second conference road win of fall 20224.

Wake Forest has now secured four single-match sweeps in fall 2024.

Rian Baker was close to a double-double, finishing with a line of 21 assists, eight digs and three service aces. Fellow junior Paige Crawford led the Deacs in kills (11) while adding three blocks.

Sophomore middle blocker Dior Charles recorded a match-best 10 blocks – her third season and career performance of double-digit numbers within that category. Laila Ricks posted five blocks.

Three Deacons totaled eight or more digs – Emma Farrell (11), Sahara Maruska (10) and Baker's eight. Maruska and Grkovic chipped in six kills apiece, with the latter also contributing four blocks. Freshman Dhru Lalaji gave a spark with a season-high six digs.

Sunday gave Wake Forest its first win at Notre Dame since Oct. 18, 2015.

How it Happened

The Deacons' second point of the opening set happened on a first kill by Tina Grkovic.
- Olivia Murphy followed with a right-side slam soon afterward.
After a brief 4-4 tie, Dhru Lalaji checked in for Wake Forest.
With the Deacon defense making an effort near the net, Paige Crawford also checked in to give her squad two immediate kills.
- The junior and Grkovic gave a notable edge with their aggressive hitting.
Notre Dame rattled off three consecutive points, leading to the day's first timeout.
- The host led 12-8 at the time.
Wake Forest scored on three of the next four possessions, taking advantage of the Fighting Irish's errors.
The Deacs got into a rhythm within its attacking tempo, paced by Crawford, to jump on a 5-1 spree.
- Notre Dame eventually signaled for a timeout, down 18-16.
The Fighting Irish worked to add points late, three on four tries, but Murphy helped keep Wake Forest ahead with a kill and block (23-20).
A Notre Dame service error allowed the Deacs to reach set point.
- The host posted three points in a row to extend the frame (24-24).
A final block by Rian Baker/Dior Charles put the cap on set one, 26-24.
- Crawford went 5-of-9 on attacks with one error during the first (.444) while Baker had a dozen assists.
Notre Dame scored the first three points of set two before committing a service error.
- Murphy/Grkovic then answered with a nice block on the right end.
The first handful of rallies was a story of back-and-forth play, highlighted by a Dhru Lalaji service ace, as the score sat even at 9 all.
Wake Forest regrouped at its bench following three straight points by the Fighting Irish.
A Baker ace helped get the Deacs back on track, tying the margin once again (13-13).
- Crawford did the same less than two minutes later, giving her squad a two-point lead.
Neither side gained much comfort through ten combined, ensuing possessions, as Charles/Sahara Maruska made a rejection to create a one-point game (18-17).
- Laila Ricks soon stepped onto the floor.
Another block by Charles, assisted by Crawford, tied the board at 20-20.
Seeing Notre Dame score twice late, Wake Forest took a floor break, narrowly behind (23-22).
Baker soon set up Crawford for a kill, again forcing extra points in a likewise fashion to the first set.
Two lasting attack errors proved costly for Notre Dame, giving the Deacons a 27-25 set-two victory.
- Baker had 18 assists and six digs through two frames.
- Maruska and Charles stood at eight digs and five blocks, respectively.
Following an early Grkovic ace, Notre Dame suffered an error on its own next serve to trail 6-4 in the third set.
Five consecutive points were then grabbed by the Deacs, upping the gain to 11-6.
- The Fighting Irish subsequently took a timeout.
Baker next made one of the most impressive plays of the afternoon, going for a one-handed dump kill (12-7).
- Becca Bellows soon entered the contest.
Points were traded for a bit, as Wake Forest kept in front up through another Notre Dame timeout (20-12).
A Ricks/Charles block put the Deacs at match point.
Crawford finished off things with one more punch, winning set three for Wake Forest on a 25-12 mark.
Wake Forest swept Notre Dame, 3-0.

Standout Stats

Wake Forest bested Notre Dame in every major statistical area:
- Points: 55.5 to 44.0
- Kills: 33 to 30
- Service aces: 8 to 4
- Blocks: 14.5 to 10
- Assists: 31 to 29
- Digs: 46 to 44
The team's 14.5 blocks was its best total in a three-set match this year.
Four Deacons recorded six or more digs in the contest:
- Emma Farrell – 11
- Sahara Maruska – 10
- Rian Baker – 8
- Dhru Lalaji – 6
Dior Charles totaled 10 or more blocks for the third time this season:
- At Notre Dame (10/20/24) – 10 blocks
- Versus Duke (10/11/24) – 10 blocks
- At South Carolina (9/15/24) – 13 blocks (career high)

Additional Notes

The Deacons matched up with The Fighting Irish on Sunday afternoon for the 15th time in series history.
- With the win, Wake Forest has now won three of the last five meetings.
Paige Crawford led the team in kills for the sixth time in fall 2024.
Sahara Maruska reached 10 or more digs for the fifth time as a Deacon.
The team's eight service aces tied for the second most in a conference outing this year.

From Coach Smart
"Today was a very good bounce back for us in different ways. I thought we gave team effort to put ourselves in position through those first two sets early on, going into extra points. Matches here are always a dogfight, and I am proud of the way our players played for each other and with passion. Our serving and defense looked strong and several players chipped in. Great road win in all."

Up Next
Wake Forest heads South next week for the second part of its two-week road tilt – visiting Clemson (Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. ET) and Georgia Tech (Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. ET). Fans can find both matches on ACC Network Extra.

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Deacs Rout Notre Dame, Capture Fourth Season Match Sweep

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Team Stats

Paige Crawford

Maruska Sahara

Grkovic Tina

Olivia Murphy

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Becca Bellows

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Emma Farrell

Tina Grkovic

Dhru Lalaji

Sahara Maruska

Olivia Murphy

Laila Ricks

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Deacs Rout Notre Dame, Capture Fourth Season Match Sweep

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Team Stats

Game Leaders

Paige Crawford

Maruska Sahara

Grkovic Tina

Olivia Murphy

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Becca Bellows

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Emma Farrell

Tina Grkovic

Dhru Lalaji

Sahara Maruska

Olivia Murphy

Laila Ricks

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