Poeck and Whitekettle Record Season Highs During Volleyball Road Win at Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Wake Forest volleyball visited Syracuse on Friday evening to kick off a two-week road stretch. Paced by standout performances by its hitters and a defensive team effort, the Demon Deacons (12-14, 6-9 ACC) took control through the final three sets to earn a 3-1 victory over the Orange (13-12, 5-10 ACC).

The contest saw senior setter Rian Baker surpass 2,500 career assists, securing the feat in the first set. Baker has led the Deacs in season assists twice throughout her four years at Wake Forest, currently ranking seventh in all-time career assists within program history. Baker recorded a double-double on Friday, her fifth of the year – 24 assists and 10 digs.

Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle made several key plays throughout the night, finishing with a season-high 17 kills that led Wake Forest. The right-side hitter also added four blocks on the defensive end.

Freshman Sadie Poeck was another standout on the right side, totaling the most single-match kills of her young career (14) on an outstanding .414 hitting clip. The Zionsville, Ind. native was also solid defensively, finishing with three blocks.

Junior Patrycja Lagida posted 11 kills and 10 digs for her third double-double of the fall. Senior Paige Crawford was effective on both sides of the ball as well, producing eight kills, 11 digs and three service aces.

Sophomore Becca Bellows collected 25 assists and eight digs. Senior Emma Farrell led all individuals with 17 digs. Redshirt junior Sanaa Williams went 8-for-13 on attacks with only one error (.538) while chipping in two blocks.

How it Happened

After Syracuse committed a service error, Sadie Poeck delivered the first kill for Wake in set one.
The first eight combined rallies were traded as the score was even early (4-4).
Poeck kept a strong start to help put her Deacs in front, 9-6.
- The Orange responded with a 3-0 push to tie things at 9 all before suffering another error on its next serve.
Baker found Ivana Cvetkovic in the middle as the tightly-played set continued, tied at 12-12.
Syracuse took three of the next four rallies, leading 15-14 at the first media timeout of the evening.
The Orange tacked on three more points in a row before Lagida stopped the run with a swing.
Baker notched her 2,500th career assist on the Deacs' 17th point of the first, setting up Paige Crawford on the left side.
After Syracuse reached set point on a middle hit, Wake jumped on a quick spurt with three unanswered points.
- Ryleigh Whitekettle firstly nailed a ball before Crawford lined a service ace.
- Ivana Cvetkovic and Whitekettle then teamed on a big block.
The Orange were able to land one more kill, winning set one on a 25-21 mark.
- Poeck was successful on three of her first five attacks while Baker totaled six assists and four digs during the first frame.
Different Deacon hitters chipped in points to open the second set, as Wake led 5-3.
The frame was soon even at 8 all before Crawford threw down another kill.
Wake's hitters kept making plays, but a 5-1 surge gave Syracuse the lead, 13-11.
The Demon Deacons' defense remained stellar, as Poeck and Whitekettle also clocked several more kills.
- Three consecutive points gave Wake the lead back.
After suffering a few mistakes and not having an answer for Whitekettle, Syracuse regrouped at its bench, trailing 21-18.
Stepping back onto the floor, Emma Farrell immediately laced an ace and Sanaa Williams added a kill to force another timeout by the Orange.
A Lagida punch put Wake at set point before a Syracuse attacking error gave the Deacs a 25–19 set-two victory.
- Poeck had seven kills on 10 attempts with zero errors at the time (.700).
Wake enjoyed an exceptional start to set three, stacking six unanswered points once play unfolded.
Syracuse was able to get on the board, but Whitekettle kept her aggressive play active and helped the Deacs maintain a five-point advantage.
After Syracuse scored three times, Wake signaled for a timeout, still up 12-9.
The Orange took four of five tries before some back-and-forth action emerged, as the Deacs led 17-15.
Following a Cvetkovic kill, Crawford delivered a timely ace down the stretch of the third, giving Wake some room late (22-19).
Syracuse fought to keep close by, stringing four-straight points to take a one-point lead (23-22).
- Kelis Hawkins made a block to even the margin again.
The Orange scored to reach set point but Lagida/Williams rejected a ball at the net to force extra points.
Poeck came in the clutch – plummeting a kill and connecting with Williams on a final block to secure a set-three thriller, 26-24.
- Farrell had 13 digs through three sets.
Set four was closely played from the start, with Syracuse narrowly in front (9-8).
A successful challenge by Wake resulted in the scoreboard tied at 11-11.
Lagida and Crawford took turns on hits before Williams made her eighth kill for a two-point lead at the media break (15-13).
Three straight points went the way of the Deacs after the break, highlighted by a Williams ace.
- Syracuse answered with three consecutive points of its own.
After another timeout, the Orange scored again before Poeck flew in from the right.
- Whitekettle did the same moments later, and Wake broke free for a 21-17 gain.
Hawkins made two big plays late, posting a block and kill.
Whitekettle went back-to-back on successful attacks to put away set four, 25-20, winning the match.
Wake Forest defeated Syracuse, 3-1.

Standout Stats

The Deacs' 65 digs resulted as their second-best total in conference play.
- Four Deacs finished with 10 or more:
  - Emma Farrell – 17
  - Paige Crawford – 11
  - Rian Baker – 10
  - Patrycja Lagida – 10
Wake Forest bested Syracuse in nearly every area:
- Points – 78.0 to 67.0
- Kills – 64 to 53
- Service aces – 7 to 2
- Assists – 58 to 50
- Digs – 65 to 52
Three players tallied double figures in kills, as Wake registered a .262 attacking percentage:
- Ryleigh Whitekettle – 17
- Sadie Poeck – 14
- Patrycja Lagida – 11

Additional Notes

The Deacs matched up with the Orange for the 15th time in series history during Friday evening.
- With the win, Wake Forest has now taken each of the last three meetings.
Securing her fifth double-double of the season, Rian Baker is now tied with Becca Bellows for a team-leading mark.
Emma Farrell reached over 500 career assists on Friday.
Patrycja Lagida reached over 500 career digs during the contest.

From Coach Hulsmeyer
"What a super win for the program tonight," said head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer. "It's always tough on the road in the ACC, and I was very proud of the way we battled tonight. We had so much energy from the bench and people stepping up at key times. We didn't always play the cleanest, but we battled and played hard. I can't say enough about the character of this team."

Up Next
Wake Forest will stay out of state for the remainder of the weekend, set to visit Boston College for a Sunday afternoon matchup (Nov. 16). First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and the contest will stream on ACC Network Extra.

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Poeck and Whitekettle Record Season Highs During Volleyball Road Win at Syracuse

Next Event

Team Stats

Ryleigh Whitekettle

Sadie Poeck

Patrycja Lagida

Sanaa Williams

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Becca Bellows

Paige Crawford

Ivana Cvetkovic

Emma Farrell

Kelis Hawkins

Patrycja Lagida

Sadie Poeck

Ryleigh Whitekettle

Sanaa Williams

Wake Forest Athletics

Poeck and Whitekettle Record Season Highs During Volleyball Road Win at Syracuse

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Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Ryleigh Whitekettle

Sadie Poeck

Patrycja Lagida

Sanaa Williams

Players Mentioned

Rian Baker

Becca Bellows

Paige Crawford

Ivana Cvetkovic

Emma Farrell

Kelis Hawkins

Patrycja Lagida

Sadie Poeck

Ryleigh Whitekettle

Sanaa Williams

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