Tuesday, September 16
Greenville, N.C.
6 P.M.
Wake Forest University
at
East Carolina
Photo by: Seth Seebaugh
Deacs Enter Final Non-Conference Week with Matchups Against East Carolina, NC A&T and Old Dominion
9/15/2025 12:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Watch (at East Carolina)Live Stats (at East Carolina)Watch (vs. NC A&T)Live Stats (vs. NC A&T)Watch (at Old Dominion)Live Stats (at Old Dominion)Match Notes
Another three-match week will cap off Wake Forest volleyball’s non-conference schedule.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest volleyball (4-4, 0-0 ACC) has reached the final stretch of its non-conference slate, prepping for a final week of three matches and splitting time on the road and back home.
The Demon Deacons head to East Carolina to open their week, set for a Tuesday match against the Pirates. The team returns home on Thursday to host local foe North Carolina A&T before again traveling out of state for a Saturday showing at Old Dominion.
Both of Wake Forest's road matches on Tuesday and Saturday will stream on ESPN+. Those not in Varsity Arena on Thursday can follow the action on ACC Network Extra.
The Matches
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Wake Forest at East Carolina – 6 p.m. ET
Thursday, Sept. 18
Wake Forest vs. North Carolina A&T – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20
Wake Forest at Old Dominion – 3 p.m.
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).
The safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans is Wake Forest University's top priority. In coordination with University leadership and law enforcement partners, Wake Forest Athletics has implemented enhanced safety measures for events in Kentner and Spry Stadiums and Varsity Arena to match those at our Allegacy Stadium district venues. These include:
Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina within a safe and fan-friendly environment. Thursday's match will feature a Student Appreciation theme, including free pizza for students, exclusive student giveaways, enter-to-win opportunities, and bonus Screamin' Demon Rewards points for attending the Deacs-Aggies matchup.
Last Time Out
Week three saw Wake Forest wrap its six-match road stretch at Alabama before being at home for wins over Davidson and Maryland in its hosted mini invitational.
Wednesday, Sept. 10
Alabama 3, Wake Forest 2
Opening its third week of the fall season again out of state, Wake Forest faced the Alabama Crimson Tide on Wednesday night in a road matchup within the inaugural ACC/SEC Showdown at the Net. The Deacs mounted an admirable comeback effort in a five-set thriller but fell short in a 3-2 loss to Alabama.
Senior Paige Crawford led Wake Forest in kills for a second-straight match, totaling a new career high of 21. The outside hitter was well-rounded with six digs, three blocks and two service aces.
Junior Patrycja Lagida landed her first double-double as a Deac, finishing with 11 kills and a season-high 14 digs.
Redshirt junior Sanaa Williams provided a major defensive presence, reaching a new career high in blocks (9). Sophomore Becca Bellows notched her second straight double-double – 23 assists and a career-high 14 digs. Senior Rian Baker added 17 assists and five digs. Senior libero Emma Farrell contributed 13 digs.
Friday, Sept. 12
Wake Forest 3, Davidson 0
Officially playing on its home floor for the first time this fall in front of an energetic crowd and alums of its 1975 team, Wake Forest displayed exceptional playmaking on Friday night en route to a 3-0 sweep over Davidson.
The Deacs have now won four of their last five home openers, tracing to the start of the fall 2021 season.
Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle and senior Paige Crawford led the Deacs' hitting tempo with 10 kills apiece. Whitekettle had her most efficient performance of the season, registering a .600 attacking percentage.
Olivia Murphy also was at her best, efficiency-wise, going 7-of-8 from the floor with zero errors (.875). Additionally, the redshirt junior totaled two blocks.
Setters Becca Bellows and Rian Baker contributed 19 and 17 assists, respectively. Baker added 10 digs for her first double-double of the season, along with three service aces.
Fresh off of a showing in which she reached over 1,500 career digs, senior Emma Farrell led all individuals with 14 digs for the evening. Sanaa Williams had another strong defensive night, finishing with a match-high four blocks.
Wake Forest had its best attacking performance of the early fall, tallying a collective .419 mark from the floor, going 48-of-93 with nine errors.
Sunday, Sept. 14
Wake Forest 3, Maryland 1
Looking to finish off its first home weekend strongly, Wake Forest did just that on Sunday afternoon, as the Deacs defeated the Maryland Terrapins (5-3, 0-0 BIG 10) in a 3-1 victory.
Wake Forest secured its first weekend sweep of the fall, happening during the team's first two appearances inside Varsity Arena for the regular season.
Senior Paige Crawford paced Wake Forest in kills for the fourth time in as many matches, finishing with 16 for the day. She also collected eight digs on the defensive side.
Freshman Sadie Poeck enjoyed a breakout day, notching a new season-high 10 kills on an eye-popping .692 hitting clip – the best mark recorded by a Deac this year on 10-plus attempts. The Zionsville, Ind., native went 10-of-13 on attacks with only one error. Fellow freshman Kelis Hawkins produced eight kills on a .500 mark.
Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle was effective with 11 kills, including a .333 attacking percentage, and two blocks.
Senior Emma Farrell again led all individuals in digs (15) while redshirt junior Sanaa Williams posted four blocks for the second time in a row. Sophomore Dhru Lalaji contributed eight digs.
Sophomore Becca Bellows and senior Rian Baker finished with 30 and 22 assists, respectively. Baker also had six digs and three service aces.
Crawford was named MVP of Wake Forest Invitational, while Whitekettle and Williams also landed spots on the All-Tournament Team.
Sunday featured Wake's first first win over Maryland since Oct. 6, 2012.
Strong Week by the Senior
Senior hitter Paige Crawford enjoyed her strongest single week of the fall this past week, totaling 48 kills in three outings. The Wimberley, Texas native either led or tied for the team lead in kills each match, now resting as the Deacs' leader in total kills through the fall thus far (87).
Paige Crawford Recent Performances
Crawford has finished as the Deacs' season kills leader in each of the last three seasons dating back to her freshman year in 2022.
Sanaa's Standing Out
One of the newcomers to the roster, redshirt junior Sanaa Williams has made a notable impact within the Deacs' defense, having posted four or more blocks in four separate showings. The Nashville, Tenn. native moved up to second on the roster in blocks. Offensively, Williams is coming off her best hitting performance of the year versus Maryland, where she went 7-of-10 with zero errors (.700).
Sanaa Williams Standout Performances
A Look at the Numbers
Stepping into the fourth week of the fall, Wake Forest ranks high among the conference in different areas:
Team
Series History
Versus East Carolina
Series: Wake Forest leads, 19-6
Last Time: Sept. 7, 2019
Result: W, 3-0
Versus North Carolina A&T
Series: Wake Forest leads, 14-2
Last Time: Sept. 6, 2022
Result: W, 3-0
Versus Old Dominion
Saturday will feature the first-ever matchup between the Deacs and Monarchs.
Scouting the Opposition
East Carolina is 7-1 overall this year, coming off its first loss of the fall in a five-set defeat to Liberty in William & Mary's hosted Tribe Invitational. The team leads the American Conference in points, hitting percentage, blocks and service aces. Junior hitter Ellie Pate leads the Pirates in both kills (101) and service aces (14). Head coach Adler Augustin is in his fifth year leading the program.
North Carolina A&T holds a 3-3 record, having recently competed against ACC member Clemson in back-to-back matchups. Nicole Ellis and Luca Radnai lead the Aggies in blocks with 19.0 and 17.0, respectively. Tyne Ross, the CAA Preseason Player of the Year, competes as the kills leader, resting at 114, while Leonor Polezzi is the go-to setter.
Old Dominion sits at 2-6 overall and is scheduled to host VCU this Friday (Sept. 19) before its Saturday matchup with the Deacs. Kate Kilpatrick is a standout defender, leading the team in digs (113), while Elisa Maggi paces the Monarchs in both points (113.5) and kills (98). Head coach Fred Chao entered his sixth season at Old Dominion this fall.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
The Demon Deacons head to East Carolina to open their week, set for a Tuesday match against the Pirates. The team returns home on Thursday to host local foe North Carolina A&T before again traveling out of state for a Saturday showing at Old Dominion.
Both of Wake Forest's road matches on Tuesday and Saturday will stream on ESPN+. Those not in Varsity Arena on Thursday can follow the action on ACC Network Extra.
The Matches
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Wake Forest at East Carolina – 6 p.m. ET
Thursday, Sept. 18
Wake Forest vs. North Carolina A&T – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20
Wake Forest at Old Dominion – 3 p.m.
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).
The safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans is Wake Forest University's top priority. In coordination with University leadership and law enforcement partners, Wake Forest Athletics has implemented enhanced safety measures for events in Kentner and Spry Stadiums and Varsity Arena to match those at our Allegacy Stadium district venues. These include:
- Walkthrough metal detection at all fan entry points.
- Elevated law enforcement and gameday staff presence at each venue.
Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina within a safe and fan-friendly environment. Thursday's match will feature a Student Appreciation theme, including free pizza for students, exclusive student giveaways, enter-to-win opportunities, and bonus Screamin' Demon Rewards points for attending the Deacs-Aggies matchup.
Last Time Out
Week three saw Wake Forest wrap its six-match road stretch at Alabama before being at home for wins over Davidson and Maryland in its hosted mini invitational.
Wednesday, Sept. 10
Alabama 3, Wake Forest 2
Opening its third week of the fall season again out of state, Wake Forest faced the Alabama Crimson Tide on Wednesday night in a road matchup within the inaugural ACC/SEC Showdown at the Net. The Deacs mounted an admirable comeback effort in a five-set thriller but fell short in a 3-2 loss to Alabama.
Senior Paige Crawford led Wake Forest in kills for a second-straight match, totaling a new career high of 21. The outside hitter was well-rounded with six digs, three blocks and two service aces.
Junior Patrycja Lagida landed her first double-double as a Deac, finishing with 11 kills and a season-high 14 digs.
Redshirt junior Sanaa Williams provided a major defensive presence, reaching a new career high in blocks (9). Sophomore Becca Bellows notched her second straight double-double – 23 assists and a career-high 14 digs. Senior Rian Baker added 17 assists and five digs. Senior libero Emma Farrell contributed 13 digs.
Friday, Sept. 12
Wake Forest 3, Davidson 0
Officially playing on its home floor for the first time this fall in front of an energetic crowd and alums of its 1975 team, Wake Forest displayed exceptional playmaking on Friday night en route to a 3-0 sweep over Davidson.
The Deacs have now won four of their last five home openers, tracing to the start of the fall 2021 season.
Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle and senior Paige Crawford led the Deacs' hitting tempo with 10 kills apiece. Whitekettle had her most efficient performance of the season, registering a .600 attacking percentage.
Olivia Murphy also was at her best, efficiency-wise, going 7-of-8 from the floor with zero errors (.875). Additionally, the redshirt junior totaled two blocks.
Setters Becca Bellows and Rian Baker contributed 19 and 17 assists, respectively. Baker added 10 digs for her first double-double of the season, along with three service aces.
Fresh off of a showing in which she reached over 1,500 career digs, senior Emma Farrell led all individuals with 14 digs for the evening. Sanaa Williams had another strong defensive night, finishing with a match-high four blocks.
Wake Forest had its best attacking performance of the early fall, tallying a collective .419 mark from the floor, going 48-of-93 with nine errors.
Sunday, Sept. 14
Wake Forest 3, Maryland 1
Looking to finish off its first home weekend strongly, Wake Forest did just that on Sunday afternoon, as the Deacs defeated the Maryland Terrapins (5-3, 0-0 BIG 10) in a 3-1 victory.
Wake Forest secured its first weekend sweep of the fall, happening during the team's first two appearances inside Varsity Arena for the regular season.
Senior Paige Crawford paced Wake Forest in kills for the fourth time in as many matches, finishing with 16 for the day. She also collected eight digs on the defensive side.
Freshman Sadie Poeck enjoyed a breakout day, notching a new season-high 10 kills on an eye-popping .692 hitting clip – the best mark recorded by a Deac this year on 10-plus attempts. The Zionsville, Ind., native went 10-of-13 on attacks with only one error. Fellow freshman Kelis Hawkins produced eight kills on a .500 mark.
Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle was effective with 11 kills, including a .333 attacking percentage, and two blocks.
Senior Emma Farrell again led all individuals in digs (15) while redshirt junior Sanaa Williams posted four blocks for the second time in a row. Sophomore Dhru Lalaji contributed eight digs.
Sophomore Becca Bellows and senior Rian Baker finished with 30 and 22 assists, respectively. Baker also had six digs and three service aces.
Crawford was named MVP of Wake Forest Invitational, while Whitekettle and Williams also landed spots on the All-Tournament Team.
Sunday featured Wake's first first win over Maryland since Oct. 6, 2012.
Strong Week by the Senior
Senior hitter Paige Crawford enjoyed her strongest single week of the fall this past week, totaling 48 kills in three outings. The Wimberley, Texas native either led or tied for the team lead in kills each match, now resting as the Deacs' leader in total kills through the fall thus far (87).
Paige Crawford Recent Performances
- At Alabama (9/10/25) – 22 kills (career high), .242 hitting percentage, six digs, three blocks and two service aces
- Versus Davidson (9/12/25) – 10 kills, .346 hitting percentage and three digs
- Versus Maryland (9/14/25) – 16 kills, eight digs and two service aces
Crawford has finished as the Deacs' season kills leader in each of the last three seasons dating back to her freshman year in 2022.
Sanaa's Standing Out
One of the newcomers to the roster, redshirt junior Sanaa Williams has made a notable impact within the Deacs' defense, having posted four or more blocks in four separate showings. The Nashville, Tenn. native moved up to second on the roster in blocks. Offensively, Williams is coming off her best hitting performance of the year versus Maryland, where she went 7-of-10 with zero errors (.700).
Sanaa Williams Standout Performances
- Versus Air Force (9/6/25) – Four blocks
- At Alabama (9/10/25) – Nine blocks (career high)
- Versus Davidson (9/12/25) – Seven kills, .417 hitting percentage and four blocks
- Versus Maryland (9/14/25) – Seven kills, 1.00 hitting percentage and four blocks
A Look at the Numbers
Stepping into the fourth week of the fall, Wake Forest ranks high among the conference in different areas:
Team
- 5th in Kills (13.57/set)
- 5th in Assists (12.63/set)
- 7th in Digs (13.57/set)
- Emma Farrell – 7th in Digs (3.77/set)
- Rian Baker – 9th in Service Aces (0.50/set)
Series History
Versus East Carolina
Series: Wake Forest leads, 19-6
Last Time: Sept. 7, 2019
Result: W, 3-0
Versus North Carolina A&T
Series: Wake Forest leads, 14-2
Last Time: Sept. 6, 2022
Result: W, 3-0
Versus Old Dominion
Saturday will feature the first-ever matchup between the Deacs and Monarchs.
Scouting the Opposition
East Carolina is 7-1 overall this year, coming off its first loss of the fall in a five-set defeat to Liberty in William & Mary's hosted Tribe Invitational. The team leads the American Conference in points, hitting percentage, blocks and service aces. Junior hitter Ellie Pate leads the Pirates in both kills (101) and service aces (14). Head coach Adler Augustin is in his fifth year leading the program.
North Carolina A&T holds a 3-3 record, having recently competed against ACC member Clemson in back-to-back matchups. Nicole Ellis and Luca Radnai lead the Aggies in blocks with 19.0 and 17.0, respectively. Tyne Ross, the CAA Preseason Player of the Year, competes as the kills leader, resting at 114, while Leonor Polezzi is the go-to setter.
Old Dominion sits at 2-6 overall and is scheduled to host VCU this Friday (Sept. 19) before its Saturday matchup with the Deacs. Kate Kilpatrick is a standout defender, leading the team in digs (113), while Elisa Maggi paces the Monarchs in both points (113.5) and kills (98). Head coach Fred Chao entered his sixth season at Old Dominion this fall.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's VolleyballFootball Media Availability (9/18/25)
Thursday, September 18
Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10