Friday, September 27
Winston-Salem, N.C.
7 P.M.
Wake Forest University
vs
Virginia
Photo by: Helen McGinnis / Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Bring in Virginia and Virginia Tech for First ACC Matchups
9/26/2024 11:05:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Conference time has arrived for Wake Forest volleyball.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Having completed its non-conference slate of the regular season, Wake Forest volleyball now switches its focus to the start of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, beginning this weekend. A conference home opener versus the Virginia Cavaliers is first set for Friday night (Sept. 27) at 7 p.m. ET. On Sunday (Sept. 29), the Demon Deacons will welcome Virginia Tech for a 1 p.m. ET showdown.
Friday and Sunday's matches can be viewed on ACC Network Extra.
The Deacs currently stand at 8-3 overall and are on a five-match winning streak, also having won four of their first five appearances inside Varsity Arena.
Wake Forest will compete in 20 total ACC matches for the remainder of the regular season, 10 of which will occur on its home floor. For the last two seasons (2022-23), the program has notched consecutive years of at least eight victories against league opponents. That feat became a first for Wake Forest since 2009-10.
The Matches
Friday, Sept. 27
Wake Forest vs. Virginia – 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 29
Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech – 1 p.m. ET
Fan Information and Weekend Promotions
There will continue to be free admission for general admission seating for all home volleyball single matches. The team plays each home contest in Varsity Arena, located on the second level of Reynolds Gymnasium (21 Wingate Rd, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109).
Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina within a safe and fan-friendly environment. For the Sunday match versus Virginia Tech (Sept. 29), a yearly 'Camper Reunion' will take place, as campers of past Wake Forest volleyball summer camps will be invited back to cheer on the Deacs and receive a special in-venue shoutout. The afternoon contest will also feature a giveaway of team mini posters.
Accessibility Information
Wake Forest Athletics strives to provide content at all home events, social media and on GoDeacs.com that is accessible to all fans. In the continued effort to improve accessibility of the technology and digital content at volleyball home matches this fall, fans can access closed captions here for the public address announcer and in-venue content.
Last Time Out
Friday, Sept. 20 – Wake Forest 3, App State 1
Back on its home floor after a two-week road stretch, Wake Forest saw a great buzz within Varsity Arena, hosting in-state foe App State. The Deacons rallied to win three consecutive sets after dropping the first, en route to a 3-1 victory (18-25, 25-18, 25-22, 27-25).
Rian Baker posted her third double-double of the fall – 27 assists (season high) and 13 digs. Fellow junior Paige Crawford finished with a line of 13 kills, six digs and four service aces. Sahara Maruska added 13 kills of her own, along with nine digs.
Dior Charles led all individuals in blocks for the second time in as many matches, totaling seven blocks. The Los Angeles native added seven kills on 11 attacking attempts (.636). Tina Grkovic also went 7-for-11 in her hits, only suffering one error (.545).
Becca Bellows contributed 18 assists and a new season high of three aces. Olivia Murphy chipped in 10 kills while Emma Farrell led Wake Forest in digs (14).
Sunday, Sept. 22 – Wake Forest 3, Davidson 2
Battling a second in-state opponent for the weekend, Wake Forest hosted Davidson on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 22) inside Varsity Arena. The Deacs came back from a 2-1 deficit to secure the contest in five sets (16-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18, 15-10).
The win ultimately earned Wake Forest its second weekend sweep of fall 2024.
Laila Ricks and Olivia Murphy both exploded for new career highs in kills, going for 18 and 17, respectively. Murphy was exceptional in her attacking percentage, the best of her career (.654) and best by a Deacon hitter since Ashley Slater's .706 hitting performance at Syracuse last season on Oct. 8, 2023. Ricks was also very solid in her swings (.395) while adding five blocks.
Emma Farrell posted an eye-popping double-double that included a season high in digs (26) and new career high in assists (12). Paige Crawford fell just short of her own double-double – 18 kills (season high) and eight digs.
Setters Rian Baker (26 assists and eight digs) and Becca Bellows (27 assists and seven digs) helped control the offensive tempo while Tina Grkovic contributed six kills and seven blocks.
Non-Con in the Books
The win over Davidson this past Sunday was Wake Forest's final non-conference showing of the regular season, as the team went 8-3 against such competition this year. It currently rests as the second-best clip within the head coach Randi Smart era.
Since the start of the 2019 campaign, Wake Forest has gone 15-2 at home versus regular-season, non-conference opponents:
Paige Recently
Junior outside hitter Paige Crawford has either led or tied as the team leader in kills for three straight matches, currently at 46 kills through the last 13 sets played.
Crawford's last three showings have bumped her up as the new team leader in kills (105), a nod she has carried for the last two seasons as well. The Wimberley, Texas native is also leading the Deacs in service aces (19) and second in digs (81).
Paige Crawford Recent Performances
Series History
Versus Virginia
Series: Wake Forest leads, 30-28
Last Time: Oct. 27, 2023
Result: W, 3-1
Versus Virginia Tech
Series: Virginia Tech leads, 37-16
Last Time: Nov. 19, 2023
Result: L, 1-3
Scouting the Opposition
Virginia is 10-1 overall on the year and on a seven-match winning streak. Abby Tadder, Elayna Duprey and Brookly Borum have all totaled over 100 season kills for the team. Head coach Shannon Wells is in her fourth season at the helm of the program. Wake Forest has taken the last seven matchups over the Cavaliers.
Virginia Tech holds a 6-4 record through the fall so far and has won each of its last three contests. The Hokies visit NC State on Friday night (Sept. 27) prior to their Sunday meeting with Wake Forest. Junior setter Viktoria Wahlgren ranks eighth in the ACC in assists (8.90/set).
Up Next
A first weekend of ACC road matches takes Wake Forest to the West Coast next, visiting league newcomers California (Oct. 4) and Stanford (Oct. 6). The Deacs will match up with the Golden Bears next Friday at 10 p.m. ET // 7 p.m. PT before taking on the Cardinal during Sunday at 4 p.m. ET // 1 p.m. PT.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Friday and Sunday's matches can be viewed on ACC Network Extra.
The Deacs currently stand at 8-3 overall and are on a five-match winning streak, also having won four of their first five appearances inside Varsity Arena.
Wake Forest will compete in 20 total ACC matches for the remainder of the regular season, 10 of which will occur on its home floor. For the last two seasons (2022-23), the program has notched consecutive years of at least eight victories against league opponents. That feat became a first for Wake Forest since 2009-10.
The Matches
Friday, Sept. 27
Wake Forest vs. Virginia – 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 29
Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech – 1 p.m. ET
Fan Information and Weekend Promotions
There will continue to be free admission for general admission seating for all home volleyball single matches. The team plays each home contest in Varsity Arena, located on the second level of Reynolds Gymnasium (21 Wingate Rd, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109).
Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina within a safe and fan-friendly environment. For the Sunday match versus Virginia Tech (Sept. 29), a yearly 'Camper Reunion' will take place, as campers of past Wake Forest volleyball summer camps will be invited back to cheer on the Deacs and receive a special in-venue shoutout. The afternoon contest will also feature a giveaway of team mini posters.
Accessibility Information
Wake Forest Athletics strives to provide content at all home events, social media and on GoDeacs.com that is accessible to all fans. In the continued effort to improve accessibility of the technology and digital content at volleyball home matches this fall, fans can access closed captions here for the public address announcer and in-venue content.
Last Time Out
Friday, Sept. 20 – Wake Forest 3, App State 1
Back on its home floor after a two-week road stretch, Wake Forest saw a great buzz within Varsity Arena, hosting in-state foe App State. The Deacons rallied to win three consecutive sets after dropping the first, en route to a 3-1 victory (18-25, 25-18, 25-22, 27-25).
Rian Baker posted her third double-double of the fall – 27 assists (season high) and 13 digs. Fellow junior Paige Crawford finished with a line of 13 kills, six digs and four service aces. Sahara Maruska added 13 kills of her own, along with nine digs.
Dior Charles led all individuals in blocks for the second time in as many matches, totaling seven blocks. The Los Angeles native added seven kills on 11 attacking attempts (.636). Tina Grkovic also went 7-for-11 in her hits, only suffering one error (.545).
Becca Bellows contributed 18 assists and a new season high of three aces. Olivia Murphy chipped in 10 kills while Emma Farrell led Wake Forest in digs (14).
Sunday, Sept. 22 – Wake Forest 3, Davidson 2
Battling a second in-state opponent for the weekend, Wake Forest hosted Davidson on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 22) inside Varsity Arena. The Deacs came back from a 2-1 deficit to secure the contest in five sets (16-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18, 15-10).
The win ultimately earned Wake Forest its second weekend sweep of fall 2024.
Laila Ricks and Olivia Murphy both exploded for new career highs in kills, going for 18 and 17, respectively. Murphy was exceptional in her attacking percentage, the best of her career (.654) and best by a Deacon hitter since Ashley Slater's .706 hitting performance at Syracuse last season on Oct. 8, 2023. Ricks was also very solid in her swings (.395) while adding five blocks.
Emma Farrell posted an eye-popping double-double that included a season high in digs (26) and new career high in assists (12). Paige Crawford fell just short of her own double-double – 18 kills (season high) and eight digs.
Setters Rian Baker (26 assists and eight digs) and Becca Bellows (27 assists and seven digs) helped control the offensive tempo while Tina Grkovic contributed six kills and seven blocks.
Non-Con in the Books
The win over Davidson this past Sunday was Wake Forest's final non-conference showing of the regular season, as the team went 8-3 against such competition this year. It currently rests as the second-best clip within the head coach Randi Smart era.
Since the start of the 2019 campaign, Wake Forest has gone 15-2 at home versus regular-season, non-conference opponents:
- Versus Davidson (9/22/24): W, 3-2
- Versus App State (9/20/24): W, 3-1
- Versus Navy (9/1/24): W, 3-0
- Versus West Virginia (8/31/24): W, 3-2
- Versus Hofstra (8/30/24): L, 0-3
- Versus Grand Canyon (8/27/23): W, 3-1
- Versus Northeastern (8/26/23): W, 3-0
- Versus Toledo (8/25/23): W, 3-0
- Versus South Carolina (9/3/22): W, 3-1
- Versus Kennesaw State (8/27/22): W, 3-1
- Versus Western Carolina (8/27/22): L, 2-3
- Versus NC Central (8/26/22): W, 3-0
- Versus Davidson (9/17/21): W, 3-0
- Versus North Carolina A&T (9/14/21): W, 3-0
- Versus Furman (9/14/19): W, 3-0
- Versus NC Central (8/31/19): W, 3-0
- Versus Presbyterian (8/30/19): W, 3-0
Paige Recently
Junior outside hitter Paige Crawford has either led or tied as the team leader in kills for three straight matches, currently at 46 kills through the last 13 sets played.
Crawford's last three showings have bumped her up as the new team leader in kills (105), a nod she has carried for the last two seasons as well. The Wimberley, Texas native is also leading the Deacs in service aces (19) and second in digs (81).
Paige Crawford Recent Performances
- Versus Davidson (9/22/24) – 18 kills, .318 hitting percentage and eight digs
- Versus App State (9/20/24) – 13 kills, .333 hitting percentage, six digs and four service aces
- At South Carolina (9/15/24) – 15 kills, 14 digs and three blocks
Series History
Versus Virginia
Series: Wake Forest leads, 30-28
Last Time: Oct. 27, 2023
Result: W, 3-1
Versus Virginia Tech
Series: Virginia Tech leads, 37-16
Last Time: Nov. 19, 2023
Result: L, 1-3
Scouting the Opposition
Virginia is 10-1 overall on the year and on a seven-match winning streak. Abby Tadder, Elayna Duprey and Brookly Borum have all totaled over 100 season kills for the team. Head coach Shannon Wells is in her fourth season at the helm of the program. Wake Forest has taken the last seven matchups over the Cavaliers.
Virginia Tech holds a 6-4 record through the fall so far and has won each of its last three contests. The Hokies visit NC State on Friday night (Sept. 27) prior to their Sunday meeting with Wake Forest. Junior setter Viktoria Wahlgren ranks eighth in the ACC in assists (8.90/set).
Up Next
A first weekend of ACC road matches takes Wake Forest to the West Coast next, visiting league newcomers California (Oct. 4) and Stanford (Oct. 6). The Deacs will match up with the Golden Bears next Friday at 10 p.m. ET // 7 p.m. PT before taking on the Cardinal during Sunday at 4 p.m. ET // 1 p.m. PT.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Players Mentioned
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