Friday, September 26
Chapel Hill, N.C.
7 P.M.
Wake Forest University
at
North Carolina
Wake Forest Opens ACC Play with Big Four Road Matchups at No. 25 North Carolina and Duke
9/25/2025 11:37:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Watch (at North Carolina)Live Stats (at North Carolina)Watch (at Duke)Live Stats (at Duke)Match Notes
Conference time has arrived for Demon Deacons volleyball.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest volleyball gears up for the start of Atlantic Coast Conference competition this weekend, beginning with in-state travel for a pair of Big Four road matches.
The Demon Deacons firstly head to Chapel Hill for a Friday night matchup (Sept. 26) at No. 25 North Carolina. On Sunday, Wake Forest will be in Durham to face the Duke Blue Devils in a 1 p.m. showing.
Wake Forest is 6-5 overall through four weeks of the fall campaign, coming off a non-conference slate that featured eight contests either on the road or at neutral sites.
The Matches
Friday, Sept. 26
Wake Forest at No. 25 North Carolina – 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 28
Wake Forest at Duke – 1 p.m. ET
Last Time Out
A final three-match week to finish off non-conference play took place for Wake Forest this past week, involving road trips to East Carolina and Old Dominion, in addition to a home sweep over North Carolina A&T.
Tuesday, Sept. 16
East Carolina 3, Wake Forest 2
Wake Forest opened its fourth week of the fall 2025 season at East Carolina last Tuesday inside Williams Arena. The Deacs competed through five sets before falling short in a 3-2 defeat to the host Pirates.
Ryleigh Whitekettle reached a new career high in blocks (8) and a season-best total in kills (14). Kelis Hawkins also had her best performance in total blocks this fall, finishing with a match-high 11. The middle blocker also chipped in seven kills on a .545 attacking clip. Wake Forest's 17.0 total blocks resulted as a new best mark in a single match this fall.
Paige Crawford led Wake Forest in kills for a fifth-straight outing, totaling 16 for the night. The Wimberley, Texas, native added 10 digs to her line for her first double-double of the year. Coming off her stellar showing versus Maryland (Sept. 14), Sadie Poeck went for another new season high in kills with 12. Tuesday marked the fifth time this fall in which three Deacs recorded double-digit numbers in kills.
Becca Bellows notched her third double-double of the season – 26 assists and career highs in both digs (18) and service aces (3). Rian Baker chipped in 22 assists and eight digs.
Emma Farrell led all individuals with 21 digs.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Wake Forest 3, North Carolina A&T 0
Playing in Varsity Arena for a third time this fall, Wake Forest welcomed the North Carolina A&T Aggies this past week in a Thursday evening matchup. The Deacs finished victorious in a 3-0 sweep over the in-state visitors.
Wake Forest's outside hitters set the tone, as Patrycja Lagida and Paige Crawford tallied nine and eight kills, respectively. The former also finished with six digs.
Emma Farrell racked up 20 or more digs for the second time in as many matches, finishing with a match-high 20.
Becca Bellows contributed 20 assists, eight digs and two service aces, while Rian Baker had 13 assists.
Anya Santrac made her collegiate debut on Thursday, posting four kills, all in the opening set. The freshman hitter also added three blocks to tie with her classmate, Kelis Hawkins, for the match high.
Saturday, Sept. 20
Wake Forest 3, Old Dominion 1
The Demon Deacons stepped into their final non-conference showing of the regular season over the weekend, during Saturday afternoon, visiting Old Dominion. Wake Forest took three consecutive sets after dropping the first, en route to a 3-1 victory over the Monarchs.
Emma Farrell capped her impressive week with a third-straight performance of 20-plus digs – the libero finished with a season-high 24 for the day, leading all individuals.
For the sixth time this year, three Deacs reached double figures in kills – Paige Crawford (17), Patrycja Lagida (14) and Sadie Poeck (season-high 13). Crawford also had two service aces while Poeck posted a .550 hitting clip.
Becca Bellows notched her fourth double-double of the fall – 24 assists and 13 digs. Senior Rian Baker contributed 25 assists and six digs.
Olivia Fish had her best defensive showing of the fall, totaling a season-high four blocks. Middle blockers Kelis Hawkins and Sanaa Williams added three blocks apiece.
Emma Being Emma
Senior libero Emma Farrell most recently enjoyed an impressive week through the final stretch of non-conference matches. The Norcross, Ga., native averaged 5.58 digs per set with 20 or more digs in each of Wake Forest's three showings. Additionally, Farrell led all individuals in digs within each contest.
During the five-set road battle at East Carolina (Sept. 16), Farrell totaled 23 digs, including 15 through the first two sets alone. Less than 48 hours later, she collected 20 digs during a three-set home victory over the North Carolina A&T Aggies. Farrell became the first Demon Deacon to post 20-plus digs in a three-set outing since she did so herself as a freshman, finishing with 21 at Charlotte on Sept. 17, 2022. She is one of eight all-time program players to tally 20 or more digs in a three-set match, and one of six to do so on multiple occasions. Helping the Deacs finish their non-conference slate in winning fashion, Farrell recorded a season-high 24 digs in a road victory at Old Dominion this past Saturday (Sept. 20).
Emma Farrell Fall 2025 Week Four Performances
Strong Sophomore Start
Sophomore setter Becca Bellows has played a key role in the Deacs' offensive tempo, currently having plugged in 20-plus assists in eight of 11 matches. The Wheaton, Ill., native leads the team in total assists (241) and is second on the roster in both digs (93) and service aces (15). Bellows' four double-doubles are also a team-best mark.
Becca Bellows Recent Standout Performances
Freshman Takeoff
First-year right-side hitter Sadie Poeck has recently given Wake Forest a boost in the team's attacking game. In her sixth career match versus Maryland (Sept. 14), she registered a top hitting clip by any Deac this fall with multiple kills and attacks (10-1-13 for .692). Last week, the Zionsville, Ind. native set new season highs in kills again, twice through three matches, with 12 at East Carolina and 13 at Old Dominion during the team's non-conference regular-season finale.
Sadie Poeck Recent Standout Performances
A Look at the Numbers
Entering its conference schedule, Wake Forest continues to rank high in the ACC in multiple categories:
Team
Series History
Versus North Carolina
Series: North Carolina leads, 55-17
Last Time: Oct. 13, 2024
Result: L, 0-3
Versus Duke
Series: Duke leads, 61-16
Last Time: Nov. 27, 2024
Result: L, 0-3
Scouting the Opposition
Currently ranked No. 25 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll, the North Carolina Tar Heels are 7-2 overall on the year and coming off a four-set home victory over East Carolina. The team ranks fifth in the ACC in hitting percentage (.270). Individually, senior libero Maddy May and junior outside hitter Safi Hampton rest sixth and ninth in digs and kills, respectively, among conference leaders. North Carolina is 5-1 at home this season.
Duke has a 3-8 record, having dropped its last three matches. The Blue Devils will host NC State on Friday evening before their Sunday matchup with the Deacs. Sophomore libero Mailinh Godschall leads the league in both total digs (196) and digs-per-set average (4.56) while freshman setter Charlotte Glass is 10th in assists (7.03/set). As a team, Duke ranks third in digs (15.53/set). Head coach Jolene Nagel is in her 27th season at the helm of the program.
Follow the Deacs
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The Demon Deacons firstly head to Chapel Hill for a Friday night matchup (Sept. 26) at No. 25 North Carolina. On Sunday, Wake Forest will be in Durham to face the Duke Blue Devils in a 1 p.m. showing.
Wake Forest is 6-5 overall through four weeks of the fall campaign, coming off a non-conference slate that featured eight contests either on the road or at neutral sites.
The Matches
Friday, Sept. 26
Wake Forest at No. 25 North Carolina – 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 28
Wake Forest at Duke – 1 p.m. ET
Last Time Out
A final three-match week to finish off non-conference play took place for Wake Forest this past week, involving road trips to East Carolina and Old Dominion, in addition to a home sweep over North Carolina A&T.
Tuesday, Sept. 16
East Carolina 3, Wake Forest 2
Wake Forest opened its fourth week of the fall 2025 season at East Carolina last Tuesday inside Williams Arena. The Deacs competed through five sets before falling short in a 3-2 defeat to the host Pirates.
Ryleigh Whitekettle reached a new career high in blocks (8) and a season-best total in kills (14). Kelis Hawkins also had her best performance in total blocks this fall, finishing with a match-high 11. The middle blocker also chipped in seven kills on a .545 attacking clip. Wake Forest's 17.0 total blocks resulted as a new best mark in a single match this fall.
Paige Crawford led Wake Forest in kills for a fifth-straight outing, totaling 16 for the night. The Wimberley, Texas, native added 10 digs to her line for her first double-double of the year. Coming off her stellar showing versus Maryland (Sept. 14), Sadie Poeck went for another new season high in kills with 12. Tuesday marked the fifth time this fall in which three Deacs recorded double-digit numbers in kills.
Becca Bellows notched her third double-double of the season – 26 assists and career highs in both digs (18) and service aces (3). Rian Baker chipped in 22 assists and eight digs.
Emma Farrell led all individuals with 21 digs.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Wake Forest 3, North Carolina A&T 0
Playing in Varsity Arena for a third time this fall, Wake Forest welcomed the North Carolina A&T Aggies this past week in a Thursday evening matchup. The Deacs finished victorious in a 3-0 sweep over the in-state visitors.
Wake Forest's outside hitters set the tone, as Patrycja Lagida and Paige Crawford tallied nine and eight kills, respectively. The former also finished with six digs.
Emma Farrell racked up 20 or more digs for the second time in as many matches, finishing with a match-high 20.
Becca Bellows contributed 20 assists, eight digs and two service aces, while Rian Baker had 13 assists.
Anya Santrac made her collegiate debut on Thursday, posting four kills, all in the opening set. The freshman hitter also added three blocks to tie with her classmate, Kelis Hawkins, for the match high.
Saturday, Sept. 20
Wake Forest 3, Old Dominion 1
The Demon Deacons stepped into their final non-conference showing of the regular season over the weekend, during Saturday afternoon, visiting Old Dominion. Wake Forest took three consecutive sets after dropping the first, en route to a 3-1 victory over the Monarchs.
Emma Farrell capped her impressive week with a third-straight performance of 20-plus digs – the libero finished with a season-high 24 for the day, leading all individuals.
For the sixth time this year, three Deacs reached double figures in kills – Paige Crawford (17), Patrycja Lagida (14) and Sadie Poeck (season-high 13). Crawford also had two service aces while Poeck posted a .550 hitting clip.
Becca Bellows notched her fourth double-double of the fall – 24 assists and 13 digs. Senior Rian Baker contributed 25 assists and six digs.
Olivia Fish had her best defensive showing of the fall, totaling a season-high four blocks. Middle blockers Kelis Hawkins and Sanaa Williams added three blocks apiece.
Emma Being Emma
Senior libero Emma Farrell most recently enjoyed an impressive week through the final stretch of non-conference matches. The Norcross, Ga., native averaged 5.58 digs per set with 20 or more digs in each of Wake Forest's three showings. Additionally, Farrell led all individuals in digs within each contest.
During the five-set road battle at East Carolina (Sept. 16), Farrell totaled 23 digs, including 15 through the first two sets alone. Less than 48 hours later, she collected 20 digs during a three-set home victory over the North Carolina A&T Aggies. Farrell became the first Demon Deacon to post 20-plus digs in a three-set outing since she did so herself as a freshman, finishing with 21 at Charlotte on Sept. 17, 2022. She is one of eight all-time program players to tally 20 or more digs in a three-set match, and one of six to do so on multiple occasions. Helping the Deacs finish their non-conference slate in winning fashion, Farrell recorded a season-high 24 digs in a road victory at Old Dominion this past Saturday (Sept. 20).
Emma Farrell Fall 2025 Week Four Performances
- At East Carolina (9/16/25): 23 digs and five assists in five sets played
- Versus North Carolina A&T (9/18/25): 20 digs in three sets played
- At Old Dominion (9/20/25): 24 digs (season high) and four assists in four sets played
Strong Sophomore Start
Sophomore setter Becca Bellows has played a key role in the Deacs' offensive tempo, currently having plugged in 20-plus assists in eight of 11 matches. The Wheaton, Ill., native leads the team in total assists (241) and is second on the roster in both digs (93) and service aces (15). Bellows' four double-doubles are also a team-best mark.
Becca Bellows Recent Standout Performances
- At Old Dominion (9/20/25): 24 assists and 13 digs in four sets played
- Versus North Carolina A&T (9/18/25): 20 assists and eight digs in three sets played
- At East Carolina (9/16/25): 26 assists, 18 digs and three service aces in five sets played
- At Alabama (9/10/25): 23 assists, 14 digs and two service aces in five sets played
Freshman Takeoff
First-year right-side hitter Sadie Poeck has recently given Wake Forest a boost in the team's attacking game. In her sixth career match versus Maryland (Sept. 14), she registered a top hitting clip by any Deac this fall with multiple kills and attacks (10-1-13 for .692). Last week, the Zionsville, Ind. native set new season highs in kills again, twice through three matches, with 12 at East Carolina and 13 at Old Dominion during the team's non-conference regular-season finale.
Sadie Poeck Recent Standout Performances
- At Old Dominion (9/20/25): 13 kills (season high), .550 hitting percentage in four sets played
- At East Carolina (9/16/25): 12 kills and five blocks in five sets played
- Versus Maryland (9/14/25): 10 kills on 13 attacks with only one error (.692) in three sets played
A Look at the Numbers
Entering its conference schedule, Wake Forest continues to rank high in the ACC in multiple categories:
Team
- 4th in Assists (12.77/set)
- 5th in Kills (13.38/set)
- 7th in Digs (14.05/set)
- Emma Farrell – T-2nd in Digs (4.29/set) – moved up from 7th
- Rian Baker – 9th in Service Aces (0.45/set)
Series History
Versus North Carolina
Series: North Carolina leads, 55-17
Last Time: Oct. 13, 2024
Result: L, 0-3
Versus Duke
Series: Duke leads, 61-16
Last Time: Nov. 27, 2024
Result: L, 0-3
Scouting the Opposition
Currently ranked No. 25 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll, the North Carolina Tar Heels are 7-2 overall on the year and coming off a four-set home victory over East Carolina. The team ranks fifth in the ACC in hitting percentage (.270). Individually, senior libero Maddy May and junior outside hitter Safi Hampton rest sixth and ninth in digs and kills, respectively, among conference leaders. North Carolina is 5-1 at home this season.
Duke has a 3-8 record, having dropped its last three matches. The Blue Devils will host NC State on Friday evening before their Sunday matchup with the Deacs. Sophomore libero Mailinh Godschall leads the league in both total digs (196) and digs-per-set average (4.56) while freshman setter Charlotte Glass is 10th in assists (7.03/set). As a team, Duke ranks third in digs (15.53/set). Head coach Jolene Nagel is in her 27th season at the helm of the program.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
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