Friday, August 29
Cincinnati Ohio
6:30 P.M.
Wake Forest University
at
Cincinnati
Photo by: BryceMitchell
Demon Deacons Open Fall 2025 Volleyball Season at Cincinnati Invitational
8/28/2025 12:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Watch (vs. Cincinnati)Live Stats (vs. Cincinnati)Watch (vs. Michigan)Live Stats (vs. Michigan)Match Notes
Wake Forest volleyball officially begins competition this weekend.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest volleyball program is set to open the fall 2025 season this weekend, competing in the University of Cincinnati's Tribute to #10 Invitational (Aug. 29-30). The Demon Deacons will be one of three programs participating in the event, joining the Michigan Wolverines and host Bearcats.
Wake Forest matches up with Cincinnati in the season opener on Friday (Aug. 29), with first serve set for 6:30 p.m. Then, Saturday afternoon will see a 3 p.m. start between the Deacs and Michigan. Both matches can be viewed on ESPN+.
The Matches
Friday, Aug. 29
Wake Forest at Cincinnati – 6:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Aug. 30
Wake Forest vs. Michigan – 3 p.m. ET
Those planning to attend the Friday match between the Deacs and Bearcats can purchase tickets in advance here or call the Bearcats Ticket Office at (513) 556-2287. General admission seating for Cincinnati home matches starts at $10. Wake Forest's neutral match versus Michigan on Saturday will include free admission.
Wake Forest volleyball enters its 46th season in program history this fall, with a roster that features eight returners and seven newcomers. By the conclusion of the 2024 campaign, the Deacs finished sixth in blocks as a team among league member schools, totaling a 2.45 per-set average. The team was the only ACC program to have multiple players rest in the top 10 in blocks among all conference individuals. Overall, Wake Forest had one of its best all-time seasons in defending at the net, as team totals in assisted blocks (468) and total blocks (289.0) ranks second and fifth in program history, respectively. Within the current 25-point rally scoring era, those same totals stand first in a single season, up to date.
Year One at the Helm
Named the 13th head coach in program history on Jan. 9, 2025, Jeff Hulsmeyer enters his first season in Winston-Salem this fall. The Louisville, Ky. native brings over three decades worth of coaching experience at the collegiate volleyball level. Hulsmeyer's arrival to DEACTOWN came following 10 seasons at Florida State, where he served as associate head coach while helping guide the Seminoles to nine straight NCAA tournament appearances and the 2023 ACC Championship. In addition to his time at FSU, Hulsmeyer previously was the offensive and recruiting coordinator of Kansas State volleyball for six years, following head coaching stints at both Georgetown College and Purdue University. The late 1990s involved him being an assistant coach at Illinois, preceded by three years apiece as head coach of Arkansas State and Western Kentucky, where he began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant for the latter.
Jeff Hulsmeyer Head Coaching Record
Joining Hulsmeyer in their first seasons on the Deacs' coaching staff are Tina Readling (Triplette Family Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator), Sherisa Livingston (Assistant Coach) and Todd Garvey (Assistant Coach).
Who's Back?
A quartet of four-year program members headlines the fall 2025 roster – Emma Farrell, Paige Crawford, Rian Baker and Olivia Murphy. The group has combined for 313 appearances over the last three years. A standout libero, Farrell has been the team leader in digs for three consecutive seasons. The Norcross, Georgia, native finished sixth in the conference in digs (4.05/set) by the end of 2024, resting in the top-7 for a second straight year, while also ranking second in that same area among all individuals for ACC play only (4.37/set). Crawford, an outside hitter, has paced the Deacs in kills each season since her freshman campaign, finishing with 335 this past fall. Additionally, Crawford has led Wake in service aces for the past two seasons. Her 39 total aces in 2024 tied with Hanna Lee (2015) for the 14th-best mark in a single season within program records. Orchestrating the offense at setter, Baker has led Wake Forest in assists for each of the last two seasons, having reached over 2,000 for her career last November. She became the eighth all-time player in program history to notch the milestone. Baker also finished second on the roster in service aces (34) and third in digs (199) as a junior. Murphy made her return to the court prior to the 2024 season after missing all of 2023. She was named to the 2024 Wake Forest Invitational All-Tournament Team after the first weekend of the season and played in 28 of the team's 31 matches, making 15 starts, while ranking fourth on the roster in both kills and blocks.
Olivia Fish and Elena Dragani step into their upperclassmen years. Fish took a redshirt year this past season with an injury. She appeared in 24 matches as a freshman with seven starts and totaled 118 kills and 27 blocks. A rising junior, Dragani has appeared in 13 matches in her first two years, competing at the setter spot.
Two more Deacs will return as sophomores in 2025 – Becca Bellows and Dhru Lalaji. Bellows played a key role as a setter during her first collegiate season, finishing second on the roster in assists (528) and leading the team in assists on 13 separate occasions. She racked up four double-doubles on the year while playing in all but one of the team's 31 matches, including 13 starts. Lalaji, a defensive specialist, appeared in 46 sets across 19 matches as a freshman, posting a season-best eight digs twice in conference play.
New Faces
Wake Forest has added seven newcomers for fall 2025 – a group that includes three transfers and four freshmen.
Right-side hitter Ryleigh Whitekettle committed to the Deacs back in February, coming from New Mexico State where she competed as a first team All-Conference USA player. The Topsail Beach, N.C. native led the Aggies in kills (369) during fall 2023, tallying a .307 hitting percentage. Middle blocker Sanaa Williams steps in from Mississippi State, ranking fifth on the Bulldogs roster in total blocks (34.0) this past fall. Outside hitter Patrycja Lagida brings All-American status to the squad, having earned a number of accolades during her time at Chicago State the last two years. She was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2024 en route to helping the Cougars win the conference regular-season and tournament championships. Lagida also was a member of the U-21 Polish women's volleyball team this summer.
Freshmen Kelis Hawkins and Sadie Poeck signed with Wake Forest this past November, as both players enjoyed strong high school success at the right-side hitter and middle blocker positions, respectively. A pair of Belgrade, Serbia natives, Ivana Cvetkovic and Anya Santrac, round out the Deacs' Class of 2029, both holding years of experience in international competition.
Non-Con Nuggets
The Deacs went 8-3 against non-conference competition in 2024. Wake Forest has won at least eight non-conference, regular-season matches in each of the last three seasons. Since the start of the 2019 campaign, the program has totaled a 44-11 record versus non-conference opponents. Additionally, the program has gone 15-2 at home against such foes during that span. Non-conference play did not take place during the spring 2020 season.
Series History
Versus Cincinnati
Friday will feature the first-ever matchup between the Deacs and Bearcats.
Versus Michigan
Series: Michigan leads, 2-0
Last Time: Sept. 7, 2012
Result: L, 0-3
Scouting the Opposition
Cincinnati returns 10 players, including four starters, from a season ago. Two of the Bearcats' leading point scorers are back – outside hitters Sydney Nolan (3.38 points/set) and Carly Glendinning (3.96 points/set). Five freshmen and three transfers make up the roster's group of newcomers. Head coach Danijela Tomic is in her first season leading the team after spending the past 13 years at the helm of Bowling Green's volleyball program.
Michigan was picked to finish 10th in this year's Preseason Big Ten Coaches Poll after going 18-13 overall last fall. Outside hitter Allison Jacobs was recently named as a preseason all-conference player, holding over 600 career kills. Middle blocker Serena Nyambio is also back after leading the Wolverines in hitting percentage (.331) and total blocks (114.0) last fall. Morgan Burke enters her junior season as the team's primary setter, crossing over 1,500 career assists near the end of the fall 2024 campaign.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Wake Forest matches up with Cincinnati in the season opener on Friday (Aug. 29), with first serve set for 6:30 p.m. Then, Saturday afternoon will see a 3 p.m. start between the Deacs and Michigan. Both matches can be viewed on ESPN+.
The Matches
Friday, Aug. 29
Wake Forest at Cincinnati – 6:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Aug. 30
Wake Forest vs. Michigan – 3 p.m. ET
Those planning to attend the Friday match between the Deacs and Bearcats can purchase tickets in advance here or call the Bearcats Ticket Office at (513) 556-2287. General admission seating for Cincinnati home matches starts at $10. Wake Forest's neutral match versus Michigan on Saturday will include free admission.
Wake Forest volleyball enters its 46th season in program history this fall, with a roster that features eight returners and seven newcomers. By the conclusion of the 2024 campaign, the Deacs finished sixth in blocks as a team among league member schools, totaling a 2.45 per-set average. The team was the only ACC program to have multiple players rest in the top 10 in blocks among all conference individuals. Overall, Wake Forest had one of its best all-time seasons in defending at the net, as team totals in assisted blocks (468) and total blocks (289.0) ranks second and fifth in program history, respectively. Within the current 25-point rally scoring era, those same totals stand first in a single season, up to date.
Year One at the Helm
Named the 13th head coach in program history on Jan. 9, 2025, Jeff Hulsmeyer enters his first season in Winston-Salem this fall. The Louisville, Ky. native brings over three decades worth of coaching experience at the collegiate volleyball level. Hulsmeyer's arrival to DEACTOWN came following 10 seasons at Florida State, where he served as associate head coach while helping guide the Seminoles to nine straight NCAA tournament appearances and the 2023 ACC Championship. In addition to his time at FSU, Hulsmeyer previously was the offensive and recruiting coordinator of Kansas State volleyball for six years, following head coaching stints at both Georgetown College and Purdue University. The late 1990s involved him being an assistant coach at Illinois, preceded by three years apiece as head coach of Arkansas State and Western Kentucky, where he began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant for the latter.
Jeff Hulsmeyer Head Coaching Record
| School | Year | Overall Record | Overall Win % | Conf. Record | Conf. Win % |
| Georgetown College | 2008 | 36-8 | .818 | 12-0 | 1.000 |
| Georgetown College | 2007 | 39-6 | .867 | 9-1 | .900 |
| Total at GC | 75-14 | .843 | 21-1 | .954 | |
| Purdue | 2002 | 12-21 | .364 | 2-18 | .100 |
| Purdue | 2001 | 4-25 | .138 | 1-19 | .050 |
| Purdue | 2000 | 13-19 | .406 | 5-15 | .250 |
| Purdue | 1999 | 15-14 | .517 | 7-13 | .350 |
| Total at Purdue | 44-79 | .358 | 15-65 | .187 | |
| Arkansas State | 1995 | 27-7 | .794 | 9-0 | 1.000 |
| Arkansas State | 1994 | 26-7 | .788 | 9-0 | 1.000 |
| Arkansas State | 1993 | 32-13 | .711 | 9-0 | 1.000 |
| Total at ASU | 85-27 | .759 | 27-0 | 1.000 | |
| Western Kentucky | 1992 | 13-20 | .394 | 7-2 | .778 |
| Western Kentucky | 1991 | 29-13 | .690 | 4-0 | 1.000 |
| Western Kentucky | 1990 | 32-9 | .780 | N/A | N/A |
| Total at WKU | 74-42 | .638 | 11-2 | .846 | |
| Overall Career | 278-162 | .632 | 74-68 | .521 |
Who's Back?
A quartet of four-year program members headlines the fall 2025 roster – Emma Farrell, Paige Crawford, Rian Baker and Olivia Murphy. The group has combined for 313 appearances over the last three years. A standout libero, Farrell has been the team leader in digs for three consecutive seasons. The Norcross, Georgia, native finished sixth in the conference in digs (4.05/set) by the end of 2024, resting in the top-7 for a second straight year, while also ranking second in that same area among all individuals for ACC play only (4.37/set). Crawford, an outside hitter, has paced the Deacs in kills each season since her freshman campaign, finishing with 335 this past fall. Additionally, Crawford has led Wake in service aces for the past two seasons. Her 39 total aces in 2024 tied with Hanna Lee (2015) for the 14th-best mark in a single season within program records. Orchestrating the offense at setter, Baker has led Wake Forest in assists for each of the last two seasons, having reached over 2,000 for her career last November. She became the eighth all-time player in program history to notch the milestone. Baker also finished second on the roster in service aces (34) and third in digs (199) as a junior. Murphy made her return to the court prior to the 2024 season after missing all of 2023. She was named to the 2024 Wake Forest Invitational All-Tournament Team after the first weekend of the season and played in 28 of the team's 31 matches, making 15 starts, while ranking fourth on the roster in both kills and blocks.
Olivia Fish and Elena Dragani step into their upperclassmen years. Fish took a redshirt year this past season with an injury. She appeared in 24 matches as a freshman with seven starts and totaled 118 kills and 27 blocks. A rising junior, Dragani has appeared in 13 matches in her first two years, competing at the setter spot.
Two more Deacs will return as sophomores in 2025 – Becca Bellows and Dhru Lalaji. Bellows played a key role as a setter during her first collegiate season, finishing second on the roster in assists (528) and leading the team in assists on 13 separate occasions. She racked up four double-doubles on the year while playing in all but one of the team's 31 matches, including 13 starts. Lalaji, a defensive specialist, appeared in 46 sets across 19 matches as a freshman, posting a season-best eight digs twice in conference play.
New Faces
Wake Forest has added seven newcomers for fall 2025 – a group that includes three transfers and four freshmen.
Right-side hitter Ryleigh Whitekettle committed to the Deacs back in February, coming from New Mexico State where she competed as a first team All-Conference USA player. The Topsail Beach, N.C. native led the Aggies in kills (369) during fall 2023, tallying a .307 hitting percentage. Middle blocker Sanaa Williams steps in from Mississippi State, ranking fifth on the Bulldogs roster in total blocks (34.0) this past fall. Outside hitter Patrycja Lagida brings All-American status to the squad, having earned a number of accolades during her time at Chicago State the last two years. She was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2024 en route to helping the Cougars win the conference regular-season and tournament championships. Lagida also was a member of the U-21 Polish women's volleyball team this summer.
Freshmen Kelis Hawkins and Sadie Poeck signed with Wake Forest this past November, as both players enjoyed strong high school success at the right-side hitter and middle blocker positions, respectively. A pair of Belgrade, Serbia natives, Ivana Cvetkovic and Anya Santrac, round out the Deacs' Class of 2029, both holding years of experience in international competition.
Non-Con Nuggets
The Deacs went 8-3 against non-conference competition in 2024. Wake Forest has won at least eight non-conference, regular-season matches in each of the last three seasons. Since the start of the 2019 campaign, the program has totaled a 44-11 record versus non-conference opponents. Additionally, the program has gone 15-2 at home against such foes during that span. Non-conference play did not take place during the spring 2020 season.
| Season | Non-Conference Record | Win Percentage |
| 2024 | 8-3 | .727 |
| 2023 | 9-2 | .818 |
| 2022 | 8-3 | .727 |
| 2021 | 9-2 | .818 |
| 2019 | 10-1 | .909 |
| Overall | 44-11 | .800 |
Versus Cincinnati
Friday will feature the first-ever matchup between the Deacs and Bearcats.
Versus Michigan
Series: Michigan leads, 2-0
Last Time: Sept. 7, 2012
Result: L, 0-3
Scouting the Opposition
Cincinnati returns 10 players, including four starters, from a season ago. Two of the Bearcats' leading point scorers are back – outside hitters Sydney Nolan (3.38 points/set) and Carly Glendinning (3.96 points/set). Five freshmen and three transfers make up the roster's group of newcomers. Head coach Danijela Tomic is in her first season leading the team after spending the past 13 years at the helm of Bowling Green's volleyball program.
Michigan was picked to finish 10th in this year's Preseason Big Ten Coaches Poll after going 18-13 overall last fall. Outside hitter Allison Jacobs was recently named as a preseason all-conference player, holding over 600 career kills. Middle blocker Serena Nyambio is also back after leading the Wolverines in hitting percentage (.331) and total blocks (114.0) last fall. Morgan Burke enters her junior season as the team's primary setter, crossing over 1,500 career assists near the end of the fall 2024 campaign.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Players Mentioned
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