Photo by: Jaylynn Nash LLC
Demon Deacons Earn 2024 AVCA Team Academic Award
7/17/2024 1:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Wake Forest Volleyball reaches the feat for a fifth consecutive year.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A familiar summer accolade has been attained by Wake Forest volleyball, as the program notched the annual Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), presented by the United States Marine Corps and announced by the organization on Wednesday, July 17.
The award, initiated in the 1992–93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.
The Deacs have now landed academic award recognition by the AVCA for five consecutive years, having tallied a 3.67 team GPA for the 2023-24 school year and winning the Dean's Cup for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
"This is such an impressive group of women in the classroom, on the court and in life," said head coach Randi Smart. "They push themselves daily and we are proud of what they do. Five years in a row for this group in winning this award! This fifth year has been the most impressive with an overall team GPA of 3.67. Wake student-athletes take care of business at a high level!"
A new program record was set by Wake Forest back in January, as 12 roster members were named to the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Academic Team. Kylie Adams, Rian Baker, Dior Charles, Paige Crawford, Audrey Douglas, Olivia Fish, Olivia Franke, Emmy Ogogor, Kendall Phillips, Ashley Slater, Ava Torrance and Kalani Whillock were all named to the list. Additionally, 18 players were tabbed to this year's ACC Academic Honor Roll, announced on July 11.
About the AVCA
The AVCA, an educationally based nonprofit headquartered in Lexington, KY, is the largest and most diverse volleyball coaches' association in the world. With a broad mandate to develop the sport, the AVCA provides leadership, recognition, advocacy, and professional development opportunities to over 8,200 volleyball coaches. Members include college, high school, club, and youth coaches, and well as a wide variety of product and service providers. Further information is available at avca.org.
Wake Forest Volleyball in 2023
With the Deacs finishing 17-12 overall in fall 2023, it marked the first time the program has posted back-to-back seasons of 17 or more wins since 2000-01. Wake Forest also tallied eight wins in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play -- standing at two consecutive years of at least eight victories against ACC opponents. That such feat was a first for Wake Forest throughout program history since 2009-10. The team began the 2023 campaign with a 6-0 mark, its best undefeated start since 2019.
Against non-conference competition, Wake Forest finished 9-2 overall in the earlier half of the 2023 season. The team was tabbed No. 21 in the first NCAA RPI rankings list of the season released on Oct. 2, 2023 -- its highest nod in program history.
A total of three Deacs have landed nods on the ACC All-Freshman Team through the last two seasons (2022-23). The three selections are the most for Wake Forest in a two-year span since 1997-98. Standout libero Emma Farrell also collected two ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2023 (Aug. 28 & Oct. 9). For her young career, she has earned four total ACC weekly awards.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
The award, initiated in the 1992–93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.
The Deacs have now landed academic award recognition by the AVCA for five consecutive years, having tallied a 3.67 team GPA for the 2023-24 school year and winning the Dean's Cup for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
"This is such an impressive group of women in the classroom, on the court and in life," said head coach Randi Smart. "They push themselves daily and we are proud of what they do. Five years in a row for this group in winning this award! This fifth year has been the most impressive with an overall team GPA of 3.67. Wake student-athletes take care of business at a high level!"
A new program record was set by Wake Forest back in January, as 12 roster members were named to the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Academic Team. Kylie Adams, Rian Baker, Dior Charles, Paige Crawford, Audrey Douglas, Olivia Fish, Olivia Franke, Emmy Ogogor, Kendall Phillips, Ashley Slater, Ava Torrance and Kalani Whillock were all named to the list. Additionally, 18 players were tabbed to this year's ACC Academic Honor Roll, announced on July 11.
About the AVCA
The AVCA, an educationally based nonprofit headquartered in Lexington, KY, is the largest and most diverse volleyball coaches' association in the world. With a broad mandate to develop the sport, the AVCA provides leadership, recognition, advocacy, and professional development opportunities to over 8,200 volleyball coaches. Members include college, high school, club, and youth coaches, and well as a wide variety of product and service providers. Further information is available at avca.org.
Wake Forest Volleyball in 2023
With the Deacs finishing 17-12 overall in fall 2023, it marked the first time the program has posted back-to-back seasons of 17 or more wins since 2000-01. Wake Forest also tallied eight wins in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play -- standing at two consecutive years of at least eight victories against ACC opponents. That such feat was a first for Wake Forest throughout program history since 2009-10. The team began the 2023 campaign with a 6-0 mark, its best undefeated start since 2019.
Against non-conference competition, Wake Forest finished 9-2 overall in the earlier half of the 2023 season. The team was tabbed No. 21 in the first NCAA RPI rankings list of the season released on Oct. 2, 2023 -- its highest nod in program history.
A total of three Deacs have landed nods on the ACC All-Freshman Team through the last two seasons (2022-23). The three selections are the most for Wake Forest in a two-year span since 1997-98. Standout libero Emma Farrell also collected two ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2023 (Aug. 28 & Oct. 9). For her young career, she has earned four total ACC weekly awards.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ 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 VolleyballWake Forest Head Coach Jake Dickert National Signing Day Press Conference
Thursday, December 04
Dec. 3, 2025: Coach Jake Dickert National Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
Steve Forbes Postgame Presser vs. Oklahoma
Wednesday, December 03
Wake Forest Women's Basketball Highlights vs Illinois St (Nov. 28, 2025)
Monday, December 01