Sunday, November 24
Winston-Salem, N.C.
12 P.M.
Wake Forest University
13-16,5-13ACC
0
vs
3
SMU
23-6,15-3ACC
1
2
3
F
SMU
25
25
25
3
Wake Forest
17
19
20
0
Photo by: David Beach
Crawford Reaches Career Milestone During Deacons’ Matchup Versus No. 10 SMU
11/24/2024 2:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Wake Forest volleyball celebrated its 2024-25 seniors and graduates class during Sunday afternoon.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Facing a top-10 national foe for the second time in three days, Wake Forest volleyball hosted No. 10 SMU on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 24) inside Varsity Arena. The Demon Deacons (13-16, 5-13 ACC) again battled through three competitive frames, but fell to the Mustangs (23-6, 15-3 ACC) in a 3-0 finish.
Junior outside hitter Paige Crawford crossed over 1,000 career kills in the contest, becoming the 12th multi-year player in program history to reach the milestone. She finished as the match leader in kills with 11, doing so on a .304 hitting percentage.
Emma Farrell also led all individuals in her area, finishing with 13 digs. Dior Charles and Laila Ricks impressed on the defensive side as well with three blocks apiece, with the latter going 7-for-14 on her attacks.
Setters Rian Baker and Becca Bellows notched 14 and 13 assists, respectively, while Olivia Murphy chipped in six kills.
The program celebrated its 2024 group during Seniors and Graduates Day, honoring seven players for all they have contributed since their arrival to DEACTOWN:
How it Happened
Additional Notes
From Coach Smart
"First and foremost, a huge thank you to our seniors and graduates. It has been such an honor to coach them here – whether it was four years, five years or one year. They have done so much to grow this program and make us better each and every day. In terms of the match, we battled again today, getting touches on hits and setting each other up pretty well. SMU has been another big addition to our league – they have had a very impressive first year. I want us to keep this focus as we go into next week, with two more opportunities to do something special."
Up Next
The final week of the regular season will see Wake Forest firstly make the short trip to Durham for a midweek contest at Duke (Nov. 27) before hosting Florida State in a home finale on Sunday afternoon.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Junior outside hitter Paige Crawford crossed over 1,000 career kills in the contest, becoming the 12th multi-year player in program history to reach the milestone. She finished as the match leader in kills with 11, doing so on a .304 hitting percentage.
Emma Farrell also led all individuals in her area, finishing with 13 digs. Dior Charles and Laila Ricks impressed on the defensive side as well with three blocks apiece, with the latter going 7-for-14 on her attacks.
Setters Rian Baker and Becca Bellows notched 14 and 13 assists, respectively, while Olivia Murphy chipped in six kills.
The program celebrated its 2024 group during Seniors and Graduates Day, honoring seven players for all they have contributed since their arrival to DEACTOWN:
How it Happened
- Paige Crawford reached her 1,000th kill on the Deacons' first point, happening on the second possession of set one.
- Kills were traded early on, with three different Wake players chipping in.
- SMU took a 6-4 start.
- Much of the same continued through several more rallies, as the Mustangs led 10-8.
- A 3-0 run by the visitors, capped with a service ace, bumped their lead to 13-8 before the Deacs called for the afternoon's first timeout.
- Crawford and Olivia Franke nailed a ball apiece coming out of the break.
- By the next timeout, SMU remained ahead, 17-10.
- After Dior Charles went for a middle kill, the Mustangs suffered an error, followed by another Charles slam and block with Laila Ricks.
- Wake Forest jumped on a 4-1 run.
- After SMU reached set point on a kill, each side committed a service error before the Mustangs took set one on a 25-17 decision.
- Charles and Crawford had three kills apiece in the first.
- Ricks opened set two with a right-side hit, set up by Becca Bellows.
- The Mustangs handed out back-to-back aces before the graduate student answered on another punch.
- Another flurry of kills happened for the Deacs, resulting in a 6-1 push.
- Wake led 9-5 at the time after Crawford laced an ace.
- SMU worked its way back to create a 13-13 tie before taking the lead on an ace and kill.
- Stepping out of the media timeout, Crawford cut the momentum with a nice swing.
- The junior did the same a few possessions later, but SMU scored on three of four tries to keep in front, 18-15.
- Stepping out of the media timeout, Crawford cut the momentum with a nice swing.
- Ensuing kills by Crawford and Murphy led to a one-point game.
- Three unanswered points by the Mustangs happened next, with the team up 21-17 before another floor break took place.
- Murphy added two kills late.
- Reaching set point on a Deacon service error, SMU was able to close set two on a 25-19 finish.
- Crawford and Emma Farrell had seven kills and digs, respectively, through two frames.
- SMU led 6-0 once set three unfolded.
- Crawford got Wake into the column with two consecutive hits.
- She soon reached her tenth kill of the day, trying to trim the deficit (9-4).
- Crawford got Wake into the column with two consecutive hits.
- Seeing the Mustangs score twice more in a row, Wake regrouped at its bench.
- Tina Grkovic delivered a kill and two aces to give her Deacs additional points.
- Exploding for a 6-1 burst, Wake worked itself into a two-point game, trailing 13-11.
- Grkovic and Ricks mainly paced the stretch.
- SMU responded by scoring on three of the next four rallies before Becca Bellows set up Ricks on the right side.
- Following three unanswered points by the Mustangs, six combined rallies went back and forth.
- SMU was able to finish on a 25-20 clip to win set three and clinch the match victory.
- Wake Forest fell, 3-0.
Additional Notes
- The Deacons and Mustangs matched up on Sunday for the second time ever in series history.
- The first, initial meeting took place on Aug. 30, 2003 at a neutral site, resulting in a Wake Forest 3-0 sweep.
- Paige Crawford led Wake Forest in kills for the 12th time this year.
- It was also her 17th showing of 10 or more.
- Wake Forest hit .474 in set one – its best percentage in a single set this season.
From Coach Smart
"First and foremost, a huge thank you to our seniors and graduates. It has been such an honor to coach them here – whether it was four years, five years or one year. They have done so much to grow this program and make us better each and every day. In terms of the match, we battled again today, getting touches on hits and setting each other up pretty well. SMU has been another big addition to our league – they have had a very impressive first year. I want us to keep this focus as we go into next week, with two more opportunities to do something special."
Up Next
The final week of the regular season will see Wake Forest firstly make the short trip to Durham for a midweek contest at Duke (Nov. 27) before hosting Florida State in a home finale on Sunday afternoon.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Team Stats
SMU
WF
Kills
40
34
Errors
10
15
Attempts
83
93
Hitting %
.361
.204
Points
56.0
41.0
Assists
37
31
Aces
8
3
Blocks
8
4
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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MB
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OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
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DS/OH
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