Deacs Battle Seminoles in ACC Home Opener

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Opening its October slate, the Wake Forest volleyball team returned to Varsity Arena on Friday night for its Atlantic Coast Conference home opener, hosting the Florida State Seminoles. The Demon Deacons (7-7, 1-2 ACC) forced a five-set outing before falling just short in a 3-2 defeat to the visitors (8-4, 2-1 ACC).

As a team, the Deacs tallied 14 blocks – 10 of which went to redshirt junior Sanaa Williams. It was a new career high for the Nashville native, who also chipped in six kills.

Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle's 13 kills finished as a team high, while senior Paige Crawford racked up 12. Crawford also tied her career-best mark in blocks (3) and had 10 digs for her second season double-double.

Senior Rian Baker notched her third double-double of the year – 23 assists and 12 digs. Sophomore Becca Bellows contributed 26 assists – tied for the match lead – seven digs and three service aces.

Freshman Kelis Hawkins tied her season high in kills with nine, adding four blocks to her line. Junior Patrycja Lagida had nine kills of her own. Freshman Sadie Poeck posted seven kills and five blocks, tying a season-best total in the latter.

Senior Emma Farrell led the Deacs with 15 digs. The standout libero has now recorded 15-plus digs in six of her last seven matches.

How it Happened

The first four points of set one went to Florida State.
Paige Crawford and Sanaa Williams connected on a block to give Wake its first point.
Ryleigh Whitekettle and Patrycja Lagida followed with a kill apiece, as Florida State led 5-3.
A Kelis Hawkins hit through the middle soon started a 3-0 Deacon push as the Seminoles struggled with errors.
- A Seminole punch put the visitors up 11-7.
Crawford next hammered a free ball and Sadie Poeck notched a kill from the right side.
After Florida State committed a setting error, Williams tied the board at 12-12 with a hit.
Wake Forest found itself on a 5-0 run, taking a two-point lead midway through the first set.
- Crawford, Hawkins and Williams all chipped in as the Seminoles continued to suffer mistakes.
Another Crawford hit upped the team's lead to 20-18 late in the frame.
The two sides traded kills and a Florida State service error placed Wake at set point.
Whitekettle put the finishing touches on set one with a strong swing on the right side, as the Deacs won 25-22.
- Emma Farrell had five digs in the first.
The first ten possessions of set two were traded, tied at 5 all.
Much of the same continued for the next few minutes, as Poeck and Crawford earned a kill apiece.
After three unanswered points by the Seminoles put them in front, 12-10, Wake regrouped at its bench.
- Lagida was successful on a neat hit following a lengthy rally as soon as action resumed.
Six more consecutive points by Florida State extended its lead to 19-11.
- Anya Santrac then checked in for the Deacs and powered in a kill.
A final 13-2 run by the Seminoles gave them a 25-13 victory in set two.
- Crawford had six kills on .400 hitting at the time.
Florida State committed two service errors in the opening moments of set three, while Crawford recorded her seventh kill (3-1).
Williams steadied the Deacs' blocking, helping the team take a three-point lead.
The Seminoles responded with three straight points to tie things up (6-6).
A successful challenge by Florida State gave them a 10-8 gain.
Contributions by different Deacs kept the team close by, trailing by two.
By the media timeout, the Seminoles led 15-11.
After Poeck/Williams made a timely block, Becca Bellows lined Wake's first service ace of the evening.
Florida State used a 3-1 boost to remain ahead (19-14).
Coming out of a break, Whitekettle and Lagida each posted a kill immediately, forcing the Seminoles to call a timeout.
Wake kept its momentum going to even the margin (19-19) with five points in a row.
- Williams laced an ace during the run.
The third was evenly played down the stretch, with the two teams going toe for toe.
- A sequence of a kill and block at the left side of the net by Florida State gave them some room, up 23-21.
Crawford answered with a big swing but a Seminole block put the team at set point.
A final tip kill by Florida State resulted in a 25-23 set-four victory
- Rian Baker recorded 15 assists and eight digs in three sets.
Hawkins and Poeck got the fourth set going with blocks and kills.
Following a Williams throwdown, Wake led 6-3.
Whitekettle added to the Deacs' scoring column with a pair of punches.
- After the right-side hitter again leaped from the right, Wake jumped ahead 11-6.
Hawkins' aggressive hits in the middle increased the Deacs' advantage to 15-9 at the media break.
Everything continued to go right for Wake in scoring on five of six possessions after the action started back up.
- Bellows notched her second ace while Williams continued to defend at the net.
Lagida clocked two final kills to wrap set four in an impressive 25-15 decision.
- Crawford and Whitekettle had 10 kills apiece entering the fifth set.
Florida State took three of the first four rallies in set five.
- Hawkins gave the Deacs points with two quick kills.
Florida State led 8-2 as the teams switched benches.
- A Crawford kill and Bellows ace happened next.
Some back-and-forth play happened with Wake keeping its fight, trailing 10-7.
- Whitekettle was a main anchor for the team's hitting tempo.
Back-to-back points by the Seminoles led into a floor break.
Hawkins made standout plays down the stretch, as Wake forced another Florida State timeout.
The Seminoles were able to capture set five on a 15-12 finish, winning the match.
Wake Forest fell, 3-2.

Standout Stats

Wake Forest totaled 14 blocks in the match - its second-highest clip of the fall.
- Five Deacs finished with three or more blocks:
  - Sanaa Williams – 10 (new career high)
  - Sadie Poeck – 5
  - Kelis Hawkins – 4
  - Ryleigh Whitekettle – 3
  - Paige Crawford – 3 (tied for career high)
Additionally on the defensive side, three players reached double figures in digs:
- Emma Farrell – 15
- Rian Baker – 12 (season high)
- Paige Crawford – 10

Additional Notes

The Deacs and Seminoles matched up on Friday evening for the 49th time within program history.
Sanaa Williams has totaled 20 blocks in her last 12 sets played.
Paige Crawford reached over 100 career blocks during the match.
Ryleigh Whitekettle has now led Wake Forest in kills three times this fall.
Friday's contest featured Wake Forest's third five-set showing of fall 2025.

From Coach Hulsmeyer
"I was very proud of the effort we got out of the team tonight," said head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer. "There were several times where we could've faded away, but the players just kept battling back – even in that fifth set, when we were down, they pushed hard until the very end. Unfortunately, we didn't get some of the bounces we'd like to in the fifth, but I just loved the way we responded throughout the night, especially after losing the third set and playing the way we did in the fourth.

"We showed a handful of good things. Still, in the end, we need to continue to execute and push through to win those matches. So, we're not satisfied with the outcome but will go back to the gym tomorrow and get better and ready for Miami."

Up Next
Wake Forest is back in action inside Varsity Arena on Sunday, hosting No. 22 Miami. First serve is set for 1 p.m. and the contest can be viewed on ACC Network Extra.

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Team Stats

Ryleigh Whitekettle

Paige Crawford

Patrycja Lagida

Kelis Hawkins

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Becca Bellows

Paige Crawford

Emma Farrell

Kelis Hawkins

Patrycja Lagida

Sadie Poeck

Anya Santrac

Ryleigh Whitekettle

Sanaa Williams

Wake Forest Athletics