Saturday, September 14
Columbia, S.C.
3 P.M.
Wake Forest University
5-3
3
vs
0
Stetson
3-5
1
2
3
F
Wake Forest
25
25
25
3
Stetson
10
19
10
0
Deacons Maintain Control in Saturday Sweep over Stetson
9/14/2024 5:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Tina Grkovic was one of several standouts for Wake Forest volleyball versus the Hatters.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Wake Forest volleyball (5-3) brought immediate energy to the floor on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 14), matching up with Stetson University for day two of South Carolina's hosted invitational. The Demon Deacons shined in a dominant team effort, routing the Hatters in a 3-0 sweep (25-10, 25-19, 25-10).
Middle blocker Tina Grkovic was a notable, two-way presence – finishing with a match-high 10 kills on 12 attempts and zero errors for an outstanding .833 hitting percentage. The Belgrade, Serbia, native also led all individuals in blocks (8).
Likewise to Grkovic, Dior Charles was efficient and effective in the middle – going 7-of-9 on attacks (.667) and adding a pair of blocks. Paige Crawford made standout plays from the jump, tallying eight kills, six digs and two blocks.
Setters Becca Bellows and Rian Baker collected 19 and 15 assists, respectively. Laila Ricks contributed six kills and six blocks. Emma Farrell ended as the match leader in digs (10).
With a Friday victory over Florida International (Sept. 13), Wake Forest is currently 2-0 in this weekend's invitational, set for one final match versus South Carolina on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 15) at 2 p.m. ET.
How it Happened
Standout Stats
Additional Notes
From Coach Smart
"I was very proud of the way we came out, maintaining that enthusiasm. When we play with that type of confidence and joy, special things can happen. It was an excellent day by our middles – they played with such force. Great showing by everyone overall. With all that being said, we know there's still more left to achieve this weekend – a big opportunity is in front of us tomorrow afternoon."
Up Next
Wake Forest has one final contest before wrapping its stay in Columbia, set to face South Carolina on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 15) at 2 p.m. ET in a finale for the Gamecocks' hosted invitational. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Middle blocker Tina Grkovic was a notable, two-way presence – finishing with a match-high 10 kills on 12 attempts and zero errors for an outstanding .833 hitting percentage. The Belgrade, Serbia, native also led all individuals in blocks (8).
Likewise to Grkovic, Dior Charles was efficient and effective in the middle – going 7-of-9 on attacks (.667) and adding a pair of blocks. Paige Crawford made standout plays from the jump, tallying eight kills, six digs and two blocks.
Setters Becca Bellows and Rian Baker collected 19 and 15 assists, respectively. Laila Ricks contributed six kills and six blocks. Emma Farrell ended as the match leader in digs (10).
With a Friday victory over Florida International (Sept. 13), Wake Forest is currently 2-0 in this weekend's invitational, set for one final match versus South Carolina on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 15) at 2 p.m. ET.
How it Happened
- Two kills by Paige Crawford opened the first set.
- Good serving by the Deacs, along with a few big hits, led to a 9-6 start.
- Tina Grkovic then laced a service ace.
- With Wake Forest tallying a 5-1 run, Stetson called a timeout, trailing 11-7.
- Crawford came out of the break with a huge swing, taking off from the middle, followed by two hammers from Dior Charles.
- Wake Forest would only let up three points down the stretch of the first, with Crawford flying from the left side to put the frame away, 25-10.
- Grkovic and Charles had three blocks apiece and went 3-for-3 on attacks in the set.
- Crawford stayed heady for Wake Forest as set two started, and Becca Bellows handed out an ace to make the score 11-6 in the Deacons' favor.
- Olivia Franke and Sahara Maruska both chipped into the scoring column with hits.
- The Deacs soon stretched their lead to 19-12, as Stetson called for a timeout.
- Crawford delivered an ace in the midst of another run, 4-1.
- Two attacking errors by the Hatters allowed Wake Forest to reach set point, 24-16.
- Stetson was able to score twice, but suffered one more mistake on a serve, giving the Deacs a 2-0 lead and 25-19 win in set two.
- Five Deacons had five or more kills at the time.
- Bellows totaled 13 assists and seven digs in the first two periods.
- Wake Forest registered eight unanswered points to begin set three.
- Grkovic continued to act as force on both sides of the ball, helping keep her team in full control (14-2).
- Stetson soon regrouped off the court.
- Several different players impressed during a dominant team display, only letting up ten total points in the set – similar to the first.
- Grkovic put Wake Forest at match point with back-to-back kills.
- Jaime Santer put down the final nail, clocking a hit and securing the victory.
- Wake Forest grabbed set three on a 25-10 decision.
- The Deacs swept Stetson, 3-0.
Standout Stats
- As a unit, Wake Forest finished with 11 blocks – marking the third time this season in which the team registered double-figures in blocks for a single match.
- The Deacons' collective .395 hitting percentage was its best of the fall.
- Tina Grkovic recorded a new season high in kills, leading all players with 10 on Saturday.
- Additionally, it was her first time pacing Wake Forest in that category for a contest.
- Wake Forest held the upper hand over the Hatters in all areas of statistics:
- Points: 61.0 to 23.0
- Kills: 42 to 17
- Service aces: 8 to 3
- Blocks: 11 to 3
- Assists: 38 to 16
- Digs: 40 to 27
- Showing out as middle blockers, Grkvovic's attacking percentage of .833 and Dior Charles' clip of .667 were their best marks of the year.
Additional Notes
- Saturday featured the fourth-ever meeting between the Deacons and Hatters, with the former now holding a 3-1 lead in the all-time series.
- Additionally, the two sides met up for the first time since Sept. 13, 2014.
- With the win, Wake Forest moved to 3-1 overall in neutral matches this season.
- Olivia Franke now ranks 13th all-time in total blocks, having totaled 289 for her career up to date.
- Tina Grkovic has dominated on defense for the first two matches of South Carolina's invitational, already at 20 total blocks.
- Becca Bellows is up to 51 total assists through the weekend event thus far.
- Up to date in the head coach Randi Smart era, Wake Forest has totaled a 41-11 record versus non-conference competition.
- Dior Charles reached her 100th career block during the match.
- Saturday brought Wake Forest's second match sweep of the season.
From Coach Smart
"I was very proud of the way we came out, maintaining that enthusiasm. When we play with that type of confidence and joy, special things can happen. It was an excellent day by our middles – they played with such force. Great showing by everyone overall. With all that being said, we know there's still more left to achieve this weekend – a big opportunity is in front of us tomorrow afternoon."
Up Next
Wake Forest has one final contest before wrapping its stay in Columbia, set to face South Carolina on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 15) at 2 p.m. ET in a finale for the Gamecocks' hosted invitational. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Team Stats
WAKE
STETSON
Kills
42
17
Errors
10
18
Attempts
81
82
Hitting %
.395
-.012
Points
61.0
23.0
Assists
38
16
Aces
8
3
Blocks
11.0
3.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
8
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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