Friday, October 3
Winston-Salem, N.C.
6:30 P.M.
Wake Forest University
vs
Florida State
Photo by: BryceMitchell
Deacs Primed for First ACC Home Weekend, Hosting Florida State and No. 22 Miami
10/2/2025 11:25:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Week two of conference play will unfold in Varsity Arena.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – This weekend will see Wake Forest volleyball (7-6, 1-1 ACC) mark the start of a homestand, beginning with its Atlantic Coast Conference home opener versus Florida State on Friday (Oct. 3). First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside Varsity Arena.
On Sunday, the Demon Deacons will host No. 22 Miami in a 1 p.m. matchup. The contest will be Wake Forest's second versus a nationally-ranked opponent in the last four matches.
Both of the Friday and Sunday matches will stream on ACC Network Extra.
The Matches
Friday, Oct. 3
Wake Forest vs. Florida State – 6:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 5
Wake Forest vs. No. 22 Miami – 1 p.m. ET
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.
Wake Forest Athletics is always open to learning about new ideas and ways we can improve. Please report accessibility challenges, identify content you find inaccessible, or give us general feedback at pantagw@wfu.edu.
Fan Information
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 third level of Reynolds Gymnasium (21 Wingate Rd, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109).
For a second straight year, 28 padded floor seats will be present inside Varsity Arena for spectator viewing along the sidelines opposite the team benches. Those interested in more information can call the Wake Forest Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 758-3322 ext. 2, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina within a safe and fan-friendly environment. Friday will feature a Wear Black theme and giveaway of black Demon Deacons rope hats for early-arriving students. Sunday will serve as the program's 'We Are Wake' match, as Wake Forest student-athletes will wear special green warmup shirts. We Are Wake empowers the Wake Forest community to recognize distress, respond effectively and connect to support. Through this initiative, We Are Wake elevates a culture of care, promotes healthy practices, equips peers with skills to help and links our community to essential resources for well-being. More information about We Are Wake can be found here.
Last Time Out
Last weekend saw Wake Forest open conference play on the road with Big Four matchups at No. 25 North Carolina and Duke.
Friday, Sept. 26
No. 25 North Carolina 3, Wake Forest 0
Wake Forest visited No. 25 North Carolina this past Friday night in a first Big Four matchup of fall 2025. The Deacs suffered a 3-0 defeat to the host Tar Heels.
Ryleigh Whitekettle had one of her best showings of the season, leading the way with a team-high 12 kills on a .500 attacking clip.
Paige Crawford and Patrycja Lagida added 10 and nine kills, respectively. Lagida also had seven digs.
Rian Baker went for a second double-double of the year, totaling 15 assists and 10 digs. Becca Bellows contributed 17 assists.
Defensively, Emma Farrell paced the Deacs with a team-high 12 digs while Sanaa Williams posted two blocks.
Sunday, Sept. 28
Wake Forest 3, Duke 1
Behind a steady defensive effort, Wake Forest secured its first ACC win of the fall season on Sunday afternoon, defeating Duke in a 3-1 decision.
With the win, the Deacs notched their first victory inside Cameron Indoor Stadium since Oct. 16, 2012. Additionally, head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer picked up his first ACC win on Sunday, currently in his first season at the helm of Demon Deacons volleyball.
The Deacs were at their best in protecting the net, finishing with 13 blocks. Sanaa Williams paced the defensive front with eight blocks – the second best single-match total of her career. Kelis Hawkins and Sadie Poeck added five blocks apiece.
On the hitting end, Paige Crawford took over as the match progressed, finishing with a team-high 13 kills. Poeck got off to a strong start, ultimately totaling nine kills, with seven in the first set alone. Hawkins and Ryleigh Whitekettle chipped in eight kills each.
Emma Farrell racked up 20-plus digs for the fourth time in the last five matches, finishing with 22. Rian Baker and Becca Bellows contributed 23 and 17 assists, respectively.
A Consistent Impact
In the first weekend of conference play, Emma Farrell continued to show her defensive prowess for Wake Forest. The senior libero totaled 34 digs through seven combined sets for a 4.86 per-set average. She also impressed in areas of passing and setting with six-plus assists in each of the team's two contests.
Emma Farrell Fall 2025 Week Five Performances
At No. 25 North Carolina (9/26/25): 12 digs, seven assists, .368 assist percentage in three sets played
At Duke (9/28/25): 22 digs, six assists, .333 assist percentage in four sets played
Through a month of the regular season, Farrell is third in digs within the ACC, holding a 4.37-per-set average across 13 appearances.
Stellar Serving
Senior setter Rian Baker has steadied her place as one of the all-time best Deacs in serving the ball. She currently leads the team in service aces with 20 – a total that ranks fifth in the ACC. Baker has recorded at least two aces in six of Wake Forest's 13 matches. Additionally, she is the only Demon Deacon to have notched four aces in a single showing this year, doing so in the win over George Mason on Sept. 5.
In the career records within the Deacs' program history, Baker stands sixth in service aces with 127 in 359 sets played throughout her tenure.
A Look at the Numbers
Now five weeks into the fall and officially underway in ACC play, Wake Forest holds a few high spots in different statistical areas:
Team
Series History
Versus Florida State
Series: Florida State leads, 41-7
Last Time: Nov. 29, 2024
Result: L, 1-3
Versus Miami
Series: Miami leads 26-7
Last Time: Nov. 10, 2024
Result: L, 1-3
Scouting the Opposition
Florida State is 7-4 overall on the year after splitting its first two conference matchups last weekend. The Seminoles defeated Clemson on the road in four sets before suffering a sweep against Georgia Tech. The team ranks sixth in the ACC in digs (14.30/set) while two players rest in the top 10 in multiple categories:
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
On Sunday, the Demon Deacons will host No. 22 Miami in a 1 p.m. matchup. The contest will be Wake Forest's second versus a nationally-ranked opponent in the last four matches.
Both of the Friday and Sunday matches will stream on ACC Network Extra.
The Matches
Friday, Oct. 3
Wake Forest vs. Florida State – 6:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 5
Wake Forest vs. No. 22 Miami – 1 p.m. ET
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.
Wake Forest Athletics is always open to learning about new ideas and ways we can improve. Please report accessibility challenges, identify content you find inaccessible, or give us general feedback at pantagw@wfu.edu.
Fan Information
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 third level of Reynolds Gymnasium (21 Wingate Rd, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109).
For a second straight year, 28 padded floor seats will be present inside Varsity Arena for spectator viewing along the sidelines opposite the team benches. Those interested in more information can call the Wake Forest Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 758-3322 ext. 2, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina within a safe and fan-friendly environment. Friday will feature a Wear Black theme and giveaway of black Demon Deacons rope hats for early-arriving students. Sunday will serve as the program's 'We Are Wake' match, as Wake Forest student-athletes will wear special green warmup shirts. We Are Wake empowers the Wake Forest community to recognize distress, respond effectively and connect to support. Through this initiative, We Are Wake elevates a culture of care, promotes healthy practices, equips peers with skills to help and links our community to essential resources for well-being. More information about We Are Wake can be found here.
Last Time Out
Last weekend saw Wake Forest open conference play on the road with Big Four matchups at No. 25 North Carolina and Duke.
Friday, Sept. 26
No. 25 North Carolina 3, Wake Forest 0
Wake Forest visited No. 25 North Carolina this past Friday night in a first Big Four matchup of fall 2025. The Deacs suffered a 3-0 defeat to the host Tar Heels.
Ryleigh Whitekettle had one of her best showings of the season, leading the way with a team-high 12 kills on a .500 attacking clip.
Paige Crawford and Patrycja Lagida added 10 and nine kills, respectively. Lagida also had seven digs.
Rian Baker went for a second double-double of the year, totaling 15 assists and 10 digs. Becca Bellows contributed 17 assists.
Defensively, Emma Farrell paced the Deacs with a team-high 12 digs while Sanaa Williams posted two blocks.
Sunday, Sept. 28
Wake Forest 3, Duke 1
Behind a steady defensive effort, Wake Forest secured its first ACC win of the fall season on Sunday afternoon, defeating Duke in a 3-1 decision.
With the win, the Deacs notched their first victory inside Cameron Indoor Stadium since Oct. 16, 2012. Additionally, head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer picked up his first ACC win on Sunday, currently in his first season at the helm of Demon Deacons volleyball.
The Deacs were at their best in protecting the net, finishing with 13 blocks. Sanaa Williams paced the defensive front with eight blocks – the second best single-match total of her career. Kelis Hawkins and Sadie Poeck added five blocks apiece.
On the hitting end, Paige Crawford took over as the match progressed, finishing with a team-high 13 kills. Poeck got off to a strong start, ultimately totaling nine kills, with seven in the first set alone. Hawkins and Ryleigh Whitekettle chipped in eight kills each.
Emma Farrell racked up 20-plus digs for the fourth time in the last five matches, finishing with 22. Rian Baker and Becca Bellows contributed 23 and 17 assists, respectively.
A Consistent Impact
In the first weekend of conference play, Emma Farrell continued to show her defensive prowess for Wake Forest. The senior libero totaled 34 digs through seven combined sets for a 4.86 per-set average. She also impressed in areas of passing and setting with six-plus assists in each of the team's two contests.
Emma Farrell Fall 2025 Week Five Performances
At No. 25 North Carolina (9/26/25): 12 digs, seven assists, .368 assist percentage in three sets played
At Duke (9/28/25): 22 digs, six assists, .333 assist percentage in four sets played
Through a month of the regular season, Farrell is third in digs within the ACC, holding a 4.37-per-set average across 13 appearances.
Stellar Serving
Senior setter Rian Baker has steadied her place as one of the all-time best Deacs in serving the ball. She currently leads the team in service aces with 20 – a total that ranks fifth in the ACC. Baker has recorded at least two aces in six of Wake Forest's 13 matches. Additionally, she is the only Demon Deacon to have notched four aces in a single showing this year, doing so in the win over George Mason on Sept. 5.
In the career records within the Deacs' program history, Baker stands sixth in service aces with 127 in 359 sets played throughout her tenure.
A Look at the Numbers
Now five weeks into the fall and officially underway in ACC play, Wake Forest holds a few high spots in different statistical areas:
Team
- 4th in Assists (12.55/set)
- 6th in Kills (13.31/set)
- 7th in Digs (14.08/set)
- Emma Farrell – 3rd in Digs (4.37/set)
- Rian Baker – 8th in Service Aces (0.41/set) – moved up from 9th
- 5th in Total Service Aces (20)
Series History
Versus Florida State
Series: Florida State leads, 41-7
Last Time: Nov. 29, 2024
Result: L, 1-3
Versus Miami
Series: Miami leads 26-7
Last Time: Nov. 10, 2024
Result: L, 1-3
Scouting the Opposition
Florida State is 7-4 overall on the year after splitting its first two conference matchups last weekend. The Seminoles defeated Clemson on the road in four sets before suffering a sweep against Georgia Tech. The team ranks sixth in the ACC in digs (14.30/set) while two players rest in the top 10 in multiple categories:
- Iane Henke - Senior Outside Hitter
- 4th in Kills (4.43/set)
- 4th in Points (5.20/set)
- T-5th in Service Aces (0.43/set)
- Kyleene Filimaua - Junior Outside Hitter
- T-5th in Service Aces (0.43/set)
- 8th in Points (4.13/set)
- 10th in Kills (3.50/set)
- Flormarie Heredia Colon - Senior Outside Hitter
- 1st in Points (6.14/set)
- 1st in Kills (5.10/set)
- 2nd in Service Aces (0.69/set)
- Dalia Wilson - Senior Middle Blocker
- 1st in Blocks (1.56/set)
- 5th in Hitting Percentage (.385)
- Ariana Rodriguez - Redshirt Sophomore Setter
- 1st in Service Aces (0.74/set)
- 5th in Assists (9.40/set)
- Naylani Feliciano - Senior Libero
- 7th in Digs (3.96/set)
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Players Mentioned
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