Friday, October 25
Clemson, S.C.
6 P.M.
Wake Forest University
at
Clemson
Wake Forest Visits Clemson and No. 17 Georgia Tech to Close Out October
10/24/2024 11:46:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Live Streaming (at Clemson)Live Stats (at Clemson)Live Streaming (at GT)Live Stats (at GT)Match Notes
The Deacs remain on the road this week.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The second of Wake Forest volleyball's ongoing two-week stretch has arrived, as the Demon Deacons are primed for another slate of days spent out of state. The team firstly travels to Clemson, facing the Tigers on Friday evening (Oct. 25) at 6 p.m. ET. Sunday afternoon (Oct. 27) will see the Deacs match up with No. 17 Georgia Tech inside O'Keefe Gymnasium at 1 p.m. ET.
Both matches can be viewed on ACC Network Extra.
Sunday's match at Georgia Tech will be Wake Forest's third outing versus a nationally-ranked opponent in fall 2024.
The Deacons hold an 11-8 overall record and are 3-5 in conference play. This past weekend, the team traveled to Louisville (Oct. 18) and Notre Dame (Oct. 20), notching a match sweep over the latter.
The Matches
Friday, Oct. 25
Wake Forest at Clemson – 6 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 27
Wake Forest at No. 17 Georgia Tech – 1 p.m. ET
Last Time Out
Friday, Oct. 18 – No. 4 Louisville 3, Wake Forest 0
Wake Forest visited Louisville last Friday night (Oct. 18), ultimately falling to the nationally-ranked Cardinals in three sets (20-25, 19-25, 12-25).
Outside hitter Sahara Maruska attained a new career feat in the contest, reaching over 1,000 career kills. The milestone occurred in set two. She finished the evening as the team leader in kills with 11, which also tied for a match high.
Paige Crawford went 7-of-15 on her attacks while suffering only two errors (.333). Fellow junior Rian Baker led all individuals with a season-high 29 assists.
Defensively, Emma Farrell finished with a match-best 13 digs while Tina Grkovic had four blocks on the evening.
Sunday, Oct. 20 – Wake Forest 3, Notre Dame 0
Wake Forest volleyball wrapped its weekend road trip on Sunday (Oct. 20), taking on Notre Dame for an afternoon contest in its eighth ACC showing.The Deacons played with balanced effort to rout the Fighting Irish in a 3-0 victory and their second conference road win of the year.
Wake Forest secured its fourth single-match sweep of 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.
Three players 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.
Through Eight Weeks …
Now at a second consecutive week, four Deacs continue to represent in the top 10 within conference statistical areas, as middle blockers Tina Grkovic and Dior Charles leaped ahead one spot from a week ago.
Sahara Stuff
In her first season in DEACTOWN, graduate student Sahara Maruska continues to bring impact to the team, currently resting second on the roster in both kills (162) and digs (141). The Houston native has started in each of Wake Forest's 19 matches up to date. Having reached her 1,000th career kill last week (Oct. 18), Maruska is also creeping close to the 1,000-dig mark as well, needing only 54 more.
Sahara Maruska Recent Notable Performances
Series History
Versus Clemson
Series: Clemson leads, 34-20
Last Time: Sept. 29, 2023
Result: W, 3-0
Versus Georgia Tech
Series: Georgia Tech leads, 40-12
Last Time: Oct. 1, 2023
Result: L, 2-3
Scouting the Opposition
Clemson is 8-11 overall on the year, still seeking its first ACC win after an 0-8 start in conference play. The Tigers rank first in the ACC in digs as a unit, holding a 16.32 per-set average while senior libero Devan Taylor stands as the league's individual leader in digs (4.78/set). Three individuals have totaled 150 or more kills.
Georgia Tech has rested in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 all fall long, currently at No. 17. The Yellow Jackets are on a four-match win streak and host NC State on Friday night (Oct. 25). The team is fourth in the conference in both assists (12.62/set) and digs (14.64/set). Four Georgia Tech individuals hold top-10 rankings in individual statistical sections.
Up Next
The Deacs will open November back at home, set to host Boston College (Nov. 1) and Syracuse (Nov. 3) for a weekend inside Varsity Arena.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Both matches can be viewed on ACC Network Extra.
Sunday's match at Georgia Tech will be Wake Forest's third outing versus a nationally-ranked opponent in fall 2024.
The Deacons hold an 11-8 overall record and are 3-5 in conference play. This past weekend, the team traveled to Louisville (Oct. 18) and Notre Dame (Oct. 20), notching a match sweep over the latter.
The Matches
Friday, Oct. 25
Wake Forest at Clemson – 6 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 27
Wake Forest at No. 17 Georgia Tech – 1 p.m. ET
Last Time Out
Friday, Oct. 18 – No. 4 Louisville 3, Wake Forest 0
Wake Forest visited Louisville last Friday night (Oct. 18), ultimately falling to the nationally-ranked Cardinals in three sets (20-25, 19-25, 12-25).
Outside hitter Sahara Maruska attained a new career feat in the contest, reaching over 1,000 career kills. The milestone occurred in set two. She finished the evening as the team leader in kills with 11, which also tied for a match high.
Paige Crawford went 7-of-15 on her attacks while suffering only two errors (.333). Fellow junior Rian Baker led all individuals with a season-high 29 assists.
Defensively, Emma Farrell finished with a match-best 13 digs while Tina Grkovic had four blocks on the evening.
Sunday, Oct. 20 – Wake Forest 3, Notre Dame 0
Wake Forest volleyball wrapped its weekend road trip on Sunday (Oct. 20), taking on Notre Dame for an afternoon contest in its eighth ACC showing.The Deacons played with balanced effort to rout the Fighting Irish in a 3-0 victory and their second conference road win of the year.
Wake Forest secured its fourth single-match sweep of 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.
Three players 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.
Through Eight Weeks …
Now at a second consecutive week, four Deacs continue to represent in the top 10 within conference statistical areas, as middle blockers Tina Grkovic and Dior Charles leaped ahead one spot from a week ago.
- Tina Grkovic – T-6th in blocks (1.27/set)
- Dior Charles – T-6th in blocks (1.27/set)
- Emma Farrell – 8th in digs (3.72/set)
- Paige Crawford – 10th in service aces (28 total)
Sahara Stuff
In her first season in DEACTOWN, graduate student Sahara Maruska continues to bring impact to the team, currently resting second on the roster in both kills (162) and digs (141). The Houston native has started in each of Wake Forest's 19 matches up to date. Having reached her 1,000th career kill last week (Oct. 18), Maruska is also creeping close to the 1,000-dig mark as well, needing only 54 more.
Sahara Maruska Recent Notable Performances
- At No. 4 Louisville (10/18/24) – 11 kills and seven digs
- Versus North Carolina (10/13/24) – 14 kills (tied for season high) and five digs
- Versus Duke (10/11/24) – 13 digs and nine kills
- Versus Virginia Tech (9/29/24) – Nine kills and nine digs
- Versus Virginia (9/27/24) – 14 digs (season high) and nine kills
Series History
Versus Clemson
Series: Clemson leads, 34-20
Last Time: Sept. 29, 2023
Result: W, 3-0
Versus Georgia Tech
Series: Georgia Tech leads, 40-12
Last Time: Oct. 1, 2023
Result: L, 2-3
Scouting the Opposition
Clemson is 8-11 overall on the year, still seeking its first ACC win after an 0-8 start in conference play. The Tigers rank first in the ACC in digs as a unit, holding a 16.32 per-set average while senior libero Devan Taylor stands as the league's individual leader in digs (4.78/set). Three individuals have totaled 150 or more kills.
Georgia Tech has rested in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 all fall long, currently at No. 17. The Yellow Jackets are on a four-match win streak and host NC State on Friday night (Oct. 25). The team is fourth in the conference in both assists (12.62/set) and digs (14.64/set). Four Georgia Tech individuals hold top-10 rankings in individual statistical sections.
Up Next
The Deacs will open November back at home, set to host Boston College (Nov. 1) and Syracuse (Nov. 3) for a weekend inside Varsity Arena.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Players Mentioned
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