Four Deacs Go For New Career Highs During Friday Victory Over FIU Panthers

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Taking the court on Friday morning (Sept. 13) for day one of South Carolina's hosted invitational, Wake Forest volleyball (4-3) faced Florida International in a head-to-head contest, ending with the Demon Deacons on top in a 3-2 victory (23-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-12).

Three Deacs reached new career highs in kills during the day – Jaime Santer (20), Olivia Franke (19) and Laila Ricks (16). It was the first time this season in which multiple players registered over 15 kills in a single showing. Coming out with an aggressive tone from the very start, Franke was efficient in her play, tallying a .441 hitting percentage.

Santer was just short of a double-double, adding nine digs to her standout performance. Along with her forceful hits, Ricks was a force at the net – totaling eight blocks. Franke chipped in six blocks.

Behind Tina Grkovic's match-high 12 blocks, Wake Forest steadied an 18-5 advantage in blocks over the Panthers.

Becca Bellows finished with 32 assists for a new personal-best mark, along with eight digs and two service aces. Rian Baker secured her second double-double of the season – 21 assists and 12 digs.

Emma Farrell notched her second career double-double and first of the season – 15 digs and 10 assists. Her last one happened as a freshman at Duke on Nov. 16, 2022. Sahara Maruska plugged in 10 digs.

How it Happened

Stepping into the starting lineup, Olivia Franke opened things for the Deacs with a kill.
- Laila Ricks followed with a big boom two possessions later.
A few kills and service ace by FIU gave the team a 6-2 lead early in set one before the first timeout was taken.
A pair of aces by Paige Crawford got Wake Forest back into a rhythm, leading to a 3-0 spurt.
Franke took over with her attacks, nailing several kills as the rallies were traded.
- The score soon stood at 14 even.
Four attack errors were then suffered by the Deacons, as FIU went back in front (18-14).
Olivia Murphy chipped in to provide strong swings, giving her squad additional points.
FIU was able to keep a five-point distance, soon reaching set point on a kill.
Wake Forest wasn't done – Ricks skied for a hit and then teamed with Tina Grkovic for back-to-back blocks.
- The Panthers subsequently regrouped at their bench.
  - After committing another error, FIU was able to grab set one on a final kill, 25-23.
    - Franke went 6-of-9 on attacks during the frame with only one error.
    - Ricks and Grkovic each had three blocks.
Jaime Santer slammed twice in the opening possessions of set two, as Wake Forest went up 5-2.
An 8-1 run was mounted by FIU, holding a 13-9 lead before a break on the floor happened.
Ricks worked to help keep her Deacs in it, throwing down kills as the Panthers advantage was cut down to a single point (16-15).
FIU went on another boost, 4-1, but Franke couldn't be stopped.
- The fifth-year threw down three consecutive kills for another one-point game (21-20).
The final few moments of the period went back and forth, with FIU holding on for another 25-23 victory in set two.
- Franke had 13 kills at the time, while Sahara Maruska scooped 10 digs.
Dior Charles entered the contest for set three.
Wake Forest's middle blockers, paced by Franke, continued to make plays, evening the score at 6-6 with a rejection at the net.
Hustle plays and punches by Ricks led into the Deacons making a three-point swing (14-11).
Things became tightly played through the third, with Wake Forest holding on to a 20-19 mark.
- Ricks soon reached her 10th kill.
Two quick points, including a Santer hammer, upped the Deacs' gain to 22-19.
Franke put Wake Forest at set point.
Paige Crawford completed the deed on a swing from the left side, giving the Deacons their first set win of the day.
- Wake Forest won the third, 25-22.
Santer caught fire as the fourth frame unfolded, providing a spark as her team surged ahead, 8-1.
FIU tried to fight its way back, but successful attacks from Ricks and Crawford allowed the Deacs to maintain a comfortable margin through several rallies.
Four straight points suddenly happened for the Panthers, staying close by and down 17-14.
- A block by Grkovic/Ricks stopped the Panther push.
'Seesaw play' took over the latter stretch of set four, with Wake Forest staying in front, 22-19, after Ricks landed a timely hit.
After FIU scored on three of the next four tries, a timeout was signaled by the Deacs.
Ricks flew in from the right to put Wake Forest at set point.
An attacking error by the Panthers gave the Deacs a 25-23 set-four victory.
- Santer stood at 16 kills, posting nine in the fourth alone.
Clocks by Ricks and Santer got set five going, sitting at 5-2 for Wake Forest.
A strong, collective hitting percentage continued for the Deacs, before switching ends of the court and up 8-4.
Eight rallies were traded between the two sides, as a number of Deacs contributed for points.
Ricks was set up by Becca Bellows to reach match point.
A final attacking error by FIU cost the Panthers, giving Wake Forest the match victory and a 15-12 decision in set five.
Wake Forest defeated FIU, 3-2.

Standout Stats

Five Deacs either surpassed or tied career highs in different areas:
- Jaime Santer – 20 kills
- Olivia Franke – 19 kills
- Laila Ricks – 16 kills
- Becca Bellows – 32 assists
- Emma Farrell – 10 assists (tied)
Wake Forest outperformed FIU in a few statistical categories:
- Points: 91.0 to 67.0
- Kills: 69 to 56
- Blocks: 18 to 5
- Assists: 63 to 55
The Deacons' 69 kills and 63 assists were both new best marks of 2024, while the 18 blocks tied for most of the fall thus far.

Additional Notes

The contest featured a third all-time meeting between Wake Forest and Florida International, with the Deacs now holding a 2-1 advantage in the series.
Friday's win was the 40th over a non-conference opponent in the head coach Randi Smart era.
- Dating back to fall 2019, the program has now gone 40-11 over such foes up to date.
Emma Farrell reached 15 or more digs for the fourth time in the Deacs' first seven matches.
Sahara Maruska got her 900th career kill in the second set.
Olivia Franke made her first season start while Dhru Lalaji and Elena Dragani made their second season appearances.

From Coach Smart
"We again found ourselves in a fight and did well feeding off each other's energy to pull through. I was very proud of the leadership and experience shown by our older players. Great effort by our hitters and middles. I feel we are getting better in our connections and just need to continue making that an area a focus. Time to take care of our bodies and prepare for a Saturday turnaround."

Up Next
Day two of invitational action in Columbia has Wake Forest slated to face Stetson University at 3 p.m. ET. Fans can follow along via live stats.

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Four Deacs Go For New Career Highs During Friday Victory Over FIU Panthers

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Team Stats

Jaime Santer

Olivia Franke

Laila Ricks

Paige Crawford

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Becca Bellows

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Elena Dragani

Emma Farrell

Olivia Franke

Tina Grkovic

Dhru Lalaji

Sahara Maruska

Olivia Murphy

Laila Ricks

Jaime Santer

Wake Forest Athletics

Four Deacs Go For New Career Highs During Friday Victory Over FIU Panthers

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Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Jaime Santer

Olivia Franke

Laila Ricks

Paige Crawford

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Becca Bellows

Dior Charles

Paige Crawford

Elena Dragani

Emma Farrell

Olivia Franke

Tina Grkovic

Dhru Lalaji

Sahara Maruska

Olivia Murphy

Laila Ricks

Jaime Santer

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