Friday, September 13
Columbia, S.C.
10 A.M.
Wake Forest University
vs
Florida International
Photo by: Helen McGinnis / Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Head to Neighbor State for Gamecocks Invitational
9/12/2024 11:20:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
A third weekend will involve a third non-conference tournament for Wake Forest volleyball.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Non-conference action continues for Wake Forest volleyball this weekend, as the Demon Deacons enter the University of South Carolina's hosted invitational (Sept. 13-15). Three matches in three days will unfold for the Deacs, beginning with a Friday morning contest versus Florida International. Wake Forest is also set to match up with Stetson and the host Gamecocks on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Sunday's showing against South Carolina can be viewed on SEC Network+.
The Deacons stand at 3-3 overall early in the season, coming off an appearance in Iowa State's 2024 Cyclone Invite. Newcomer middle blocker Tina Grkovic was named to the All-Tournament Team for her stellar play – totaling 22 kills, 11 blocks and six service aces through three contests. Through the first two completed weeks of the season, Grkovic stands eighth among Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) individuals in blocks-per-set average (1.25).
Demon Deacons Matches in 2024 South Carolina Invitational
Friday, Sept. 13
Wake Forest vs. Florida International – 10 a.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 14
Wake Forest vs. Stetson – 3 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 15
Wake Forest at South Carolina – 2 p.m. ET
Last Time Out
Friday, Sept. 6 – Iowa State 3, Wake Forest 2
Day one of Iowa State's 2024 Cyclone Invite for Wake Forest featured a toe-to-toe battle between the Deacs and host team during Friday night. The result ultimately was grabbed by the Cyclones, escaping with a 3-2 victory (14-25, 25-20, 25-23, 13-25, 15-17).
Olivia Murphy and Paige Crawford paced the offensive attack with 11 and 10 kills, respectively, with the latter adding five digs. Sahara Maruska added nine kills and seven digs.
A trio of Deacs had eight or more digs – led by Emma Farrell's 11. Becca Bellows collected nine of her own and was just short of a double-double, chipping in 11 assists. Rian Baker finished with 26 assists, eight digs and three service aces.
Dior Charles led all individuals with four blocks.
Friday night's meeting was the first one ever between the Deacons and Cyclones.
Saturday, Sept. 7 – Wake Forest 3, Toledo 2
Back on the court less than 16 hours removed from its Friday night thriller, Wake Forest took on another five-set challenge during Saturday afternoon, facing the Toledo Rockets. The Deacons stayed poised and focused to secure the win – their third of the season (21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16, 15-10).
Becca Bellows recorded her first career double-double, finishing with a team-high 21 assists and 10 digs. Fellow setter Rian Baker also notched a double-double, her first of fall 2024, going for 19 assists and 11 digs, along with three service aces.
Laila Ricks kept aggressive throughout the day's entirety en route to a team-best 12 kills. Paige Crawford added eight kills and nine digs with a highly efficient attacking performance (.538).
Tina Grkovic contributed season highs in kills (8) and aces (3), in addition to five blocks. Olivia Murphy also had five blocks, along with seven kills. Jaime Santer was a spark as a reserve with six kills and nine digs in four sets played. Olivia Franke went 5-for-10 on attacks with only one error.
Sunday, Sept. 8 – Illinois 3, Wake Forest 2
In its final day at the 2024 Cyclone Invite, Wake Forest battled through its third fifth-set battle in as many days, facing Illinois on Sunday afternoon. The Deacs showed admirable effort but fell short in a final 3-2 decision (17-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20, 8-15).
Sahara Maruska reached a new season high in kills, leading her squad with 13. Her total tied with Paige Crawford, who also chipped in seven digs, three service aces and two blocks for a well-rounded line.
Tina Grkovic finished with nine kills for a new season-best mark. Defensively, the middle blocker impressed with four blocks.
Rian Baker had her third season performance of 20 or more assists – netting 20 against the Fighting Illini and adding seven digs. Becca Bellows tallied 17 assists and six digs. Emma Farrell's match-high 18 digs was her second-highest total of the fall, including seven assists for the second straight contest.
Laila Ricks totaled a team-best five blocks, while Olivia Franke added four, along with five kills.
Sunday featured the second-ever matchup between Wake Forest and Illinois, as the series initially started over 20 years ago on Sept. 6, 2003.
Recent Milestones
In the victory over Toledo this past Saturday (Sept. 7), head coach Randi Smart notched her 200th career win while junior libero Emma Farrell reached over 1,000 career digs.
Coach Smart has continued to lead Wake Forest through its best multi-year stretch of wins since 1999-01. Additionally, the Deacs have gone 39-11 versus non-conference opponents within the Smart era and have secured eight or more conference wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2009-10.
Having started every match for the team since her arrival to DEACTOWN in fall 2022, Farrell now stands as the 12th player in program history to surpass 1,000 digs. She has also been a top-10 individual in digs-per-set average among ACC players for the last two seasons, leading the conference in that category as a freshman and ultimately earning 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year honors. Farrell already ranks in the top 12 for career digs throughout program history as well.
Series History
Versus Florida International
Series: Tied at 1-1
Last Time: Sept. 3, 2023
Result: W, 3-0
Versus Stetson
Series: Wake Forest leads, 2-1
Last Time: Sept. 13, 2014
Result: W, 3-0
Versus South Carolina
Series: Wake Forest leads, 4-3
Last Time: Sept. 3, 2022
Result: W, 3-1
Scouting the Opposition
Florida International defeated App State last Sunday (Sept. 8) in Duke University's tournament for its first win of the season – off to a 1-6 overall start. Wake Forest matched up with the Panthers a year ago (Sept. 3, 2023) in Central Florida's 2023 invitational, finishing victorious on a 3-0 sweep. Paige Crawford shined with a match-high 14 kills and eight digs in that contest, while Rian Baker collected 36 assists.
Stetson is 3-2 on the season thus far and has matches lined against South Carolina and Florida International on Friday (Sept. 13) and Saturday morning (Sept. 14), respectively, before facing Wake Forest. The Hatters have won three of their last four showings and are paced by a quartet of: outside hitter Anabelle Stanfish, setter Nyah Molina, defensive specialist Haruka Sugimoto and middle blocker Ayala Halfon.
South Carolina holds a 5-1 overall record, currently on a five-match winning streak. The Gamecocks swept the College of Charleston earlier this week (Sept. 10) at home and also recently captured wins over ACC foes Duke and North Carolina. Head coach Tom Mendoza is in his seventh year at the helm of the program.
Up Next
A final weekend of non-conference play is set for Wake Forest at home, as the Deacs will host two in-state opponents. App State is up first for a Friday evening tilt (Sept. 20) at 7 p.m. ET before a Davidson matchup happens on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 22) at 2 p.m. ET.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Sunday's showing against South Carolina can be viewed on SEC Network+.
The Deacons stand at 3-3 overall early in the season, coming off an appearance in Iowa State's 2024 Cyclone Invite. Newcomer middle blocker Tina Grkovic was named to the All-Tournament Team for her stellar play – totaling 22 kills, 11 blocks and six service aces through three contests. Through the first two completed weeks of the season, Grkovic stands eighth among Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) individuals in blocks-per-set average (1.25).
Demon Deacons Matches in 2024 South Carolina Invitational
Friday, Sept. 13
Wake Forest vs. Florida International – 10 a.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 14
Wake Forest vs. Stetson – 3 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 15
Wake Forest at South Carolina – 2 p.m. ET
Last Time Out
Friday, Sept. 6 – Iowa State 3, Wake Forest 2
Day one of Iowa State's 2024 Cyclone Invite for Wake Forest featured a toe-to-toe battle between the Deacs and host team during Friday night. The result ultimately was grabbed by the Cyclones, escaping with a 3-2 victory (14-25, 25-20, 25-23, 13-25, 15-17).
Olivia Murphy and Paige Crawford paced the offensive attack with 11 and 10 kills, respectively, with the latter adding five digs. Sahara Maruska added nine kills and seven digs.
A trio of Deacs had eight or more digs – led by Emma Farrell's 11. Becca Bellows collected nine of her own and was just short of a double-double, chipping in 11 assists. Rian Baker finished with 26 assists, eight digs and three service aces.
Dior Charles led all individuals with four blocks.
Friday night's meeting was the first one ever between the Deacons and Cyclones.
Saturday, Sept. 7 – Wake Forest 3, Toledo 2
Back on the court less than 16 hours removed from its Friday night thriller, Wake Forest took on another five-set challenge during Saturday afternoon, facing the Toledo Rockets. The Deacons stayed poised and focused to secure the win – their third of the season (21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16, 15-10).
Becca Bellows recorded her first career double-double, finishing with a team-high 21 assists and 10 digs. Fellow setter Rian Baker also notched a double-double, her first of fall 2024, going for 19 assists and 11 digs, along with three service aces.
Laila Ricks kept aggressive throughout the day's entirety en route to a team-best 12 kills. Paige Crawford added eight kills and nine digs with a highly efficient attacking performance (.538).
Tina Grkovic contributed season highs in kills (8) and aces (3), in addition to five blocks. Olivia Murphy also had five blocks, along with seven kills. Jaime Santer was a spark as a reserve with six kills and nine digs in four sets played. Olivia Franke went 5-for-10 on attacks with only one error.
Sunday, Sept. 8 – Illinois 3, Wake Forest 2
In its final day at the 2024 Cyclone Invite, Wake Forest battled through its third fifth-set battle in as many days, facing Illinois on Sunday afternoon. The Deacs showed admirable effort but fell short in a final 3-2 decision (17-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20, 8-15).
Sahara Maruska reached a new season high in kills, leading her squad with 13. Her total tied with Paige Crawford, who also chipped in seven digs, three service aces and two blocks for a well-rounded line.
Tina Grkovic finished with nine kills for a new season-best mark. Defensively, the middle blocker impressed with four blocks.
Rian Baker had her third season performance of 20 or more assists – netting 20 against the Fighting Illini and adding seven digs. Becca Bellows tallied 17 assists and six digs. Emma Farrell's match-high 18 digs was her second-highest total of the fall, including seven assists for the second straight contest.
Laila Ricks totaled a team-best five blocks, while Olivia Franke added four, along with five kills.
Sunday featured the second-ever matchup between Wake Forest and Illinois, as the series initially started over 20 years ago on Sept. 6, 2003.
Recent Milestones
In the victory over Toledo this past Saturday (Sept. 7), head coach Randi Smart notched her 200th career win while junior libero Emma Farrell reached over 1,000 career digs.
Coach Smart has continued to lead Wake Forest through its best multi-year stretch of wins since 1999-01. Additionally, the Deacs have gone 39-11 versus non-conference opponents within the Smart era and have secured eight or more conference wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2009-10.
Having started every match for the team since her arrival to DEACTOWN in fall 2022, Farrell now stands as the 12th player in program history to surpass 1,000 digs. She has also been a top-10 individual in digs-per-set average among ACC players for the last two seasons, leading the conference in that category as a freshman and ultimately earning 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year honors. Farrell already ranks in the top 12 for career digs throughout program history as well.
Series History
Versus Florida International
Series: Tied at 1-1
Last Time: Sept. 3, 2023
Result: W, 3-0
Versus Stetson
Series: Wake Forest leads, 2-1
Last Time: Sept. 13, 2014
Result: W, 3-0
Versus South Carolina
Series: Wake Forest leads, 4-3
Last Time: Sept. 3, 2022
Result: W, 3-1
Scouting the Opposition
Florida International defeated App State last Sunday (Sept. 8) in Duke University's tournament for its first win of the season – off to a 1-6 overall start. Wake Forest matched up with the Panthers a year ago (Sept. 3, 2023) in Central Florida's 2023 invitational, finishing victorious on a 3-0 sweep. Paige Crawford shined with a match-high 14 kills and eight digs in that contest, while Rian Baker collected 36 assists.
Stetson is 3-2 on the season thus far and has matches lined against South Carolina and Florida International on Friday (Sept. 13) and Saturday morning (Sept. 14), respectively, before facing Wake Forest. The Hatters have won three of their last four showings and are paced by a quartet of: outside hitter Anabelle Stanfish, setter Nyah Molina, defensive specialist Haruka Sugimoto and middle blocker Ayala Halfon.
South Carolina holds a 5-1 overall record, currently on a five-match winning streak. The Gamecocks swept the College of Charleston earlier this week (Sept. 10) at home and also recently captured wins over ACC foes Duke and North Carolina. Head coach Tom Mendoza is in his seventh year at the helm of the program.
Up Next
A final weekend of non-conference play is set for Wake Forest at home, as the Deacs will host two in-state opponents. App State is up first for a Friday evening tilt (Sept. 20) at 7 p.m. ET before a Davidson matchup happens on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 22) at 2 p.m. ET.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
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