Sunday, September 7
Annapolis, Md.
3 P.M.
Wake Forest University
2-3,0-0ACC
3
vs
0
Navy
2-4,0-0Patriot
1
2
3
F
Wake Forest
25
25
25
3
Navy
17
21
11
0
Wake Forest Defeats Host Mids in Weekend Finale at 2025 Navy Invitational
9/7/2025 5:21:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Deacs picked up their first match sweep of the season on Sunday.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Wake Forest made one final appearance in the 14th annual Kristen Dickmann Invitational on Sunday afternoon, matching up with the host team, Navy. The Demon Deacons (2-3, 0-0 ACC) played well collectively to close the first two sets before dominating the third en route to a 3-0 sweep over the Mids (2-4, 0-0 Patriot League).
Senior Paige Crawford led the way from the jump, tying her best mark of the year in kills (14) while posting a season-best hitting percentage of .429. The Wimberley, Texas, native added nine digs to her line as well.
Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle was also efficient in her swings, going 8-for-14 with only two errors to match Crawford's attacking percentage of .429. Defensively, the right-side hitter impressed with a new career high of seven blocks. Junior Patrycja Lagida added nine kills and five digs.
Double-doubles were earned by both sophomore Becca Bellows (17 assists and 10 digs) and senior Emma Farrell (10 digs and 10 assists). The pair also notched two service aces each. Senior Rian Baker contributed 16 assists and nine digs.
Freshman Kelis Hawkins had another strong day in her blocking, finishing with six, in addition to five kills.
For the match, Wake Forest hit .301 from the floor.
Olivia Murphy and Farrell were named to the All-Tournament Team by the afternoon's conclusion.
How it Happened
"That was a nice bounce-back win for us," said head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer. "I was really excited about the way that we played as a group, especially through a challenging weekend coming into an important third set. It was a great afternoon for Paige (Crawford), leading us in kills. We received great contributions from many players – I especially loved seeing our solid block. That's something that's been coming along the last two matches. We've gotten better and have a lot to build on."
Up Next
Wake Forest continues its road stretch into next week, set for a Wednesday matchup (Sept. 10) at Alabama in the 2025 Showdown at the Net ACC/SEC Challenge. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET and the contest will air on SEC Network+.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Senior Paige Crawford led the way from the jump, tying her best mark of the year in kills (14) while posting a season-best hitting percentage of .429. The Wimberley, Texas, native added nine digs to her line as well.
Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle was also efficient in her swings, going 8-for-14 with only two errors to match Crawford's attacking percentage of .429. Defensively, the right-side hitter impressed with a new career high of seven blocks. Junior Patrycja Lagida added nine kills and five digs.
Double-doubles were earned by both sophomore Becca Bellows (17 assists and 10 digs) and senior Emma Farrell (10 digs and 10 assists). The pair also notched two service aces each. Senior Rian Baker contributed 16 assists and nine digs.
Freshman Kelis Hawkins had another strong day in her blocking, finishing with six, in addition to five kills.
For the match, Wake Forest hit .301 from the floor.
Olivia Murphy and Farrell were named to the All-Tournament Team by the afternoon's conclusion.
How it Happened
- Paige Crawford and Sanaa Williams landed a kill apiece to start the scoring in set one.
- Becca Bellows soon followed on a service ace and Kelis Hawkins made a nice rejection at the net.
- After Crawford and Ryleigh Whitekettle planted additional kills, Emma Farrell handed out an ace to put Wake up 11-6.
- A few points were traded through the next few minutes, but the Deacs remained ahead at the media timeout (15-10).
- Hawkins made several aggressive plays next, joined by the Deacon hitters, as the group extended its lead to 20-15 before another timeout was taken.
- Rian Baker set up Patrycja Lagida nicely on the left side for a big hit once play resumed.
- Navy was unsuccessful on a challenge, and Bellows and Lagida put away the first with an ace and kill, respectively.
- Wake took set one, 25-17.
- Lagida went 4-of-9 on her attacks with one error in the opening period (.333)
- Farrell had five digs.
- Williams opened set two with a kill through the middle.
- Neither side created much space in a lead through the first dozen rallies, even at 6-6.
- Whitekettle and Hawkins then delivered kills and Crawford chipped in one of her own after a lengthy possession.
- With her team down 15-13 at the media break, Crawford started a 4-0 push on a quick kill.
- Farrell lined her second ace during the Deacon surge.
- Crawford posted two more kills and the Deacs led 19-17 by the next floor break.
- A 3-1 boost by Navy soon after led to a one-point game (21-20).
- Wake used team defense to close out the frame, as Whitekettle/Hawkins made back-to-back blocks to secure set two, 25-21.
- Whitekettle had five blocks at the time.
- Headlined by four Crawford kills, the Deacs opened set three on a 6-0 start.
- Navy made its way on the board with a 3-1 run, but additional Deacs added to the scoring column.
- The Mids soon called a timeout, down 12-4.
- Highlighted by plays from its hitters, Wake reached its largest lead of a set this year, ahead 21-8.
- Freshman Ivana Cvetkovic soon checked in to get her first career block.
- The Deacs remained in control to win the third on a 25-11 finish, earning the match sweep.
- Wake Forest routed Navy, 3-0.
- The Deacs outperformed Navy in every major statistical area:
- Points – 63.0 to 31.0
- Kills – 48 to 27
- Service aces – 6 to 2
- Blocks – 9.0 to 2.0
- Assists – 43 to 26
- Digs – 48 to 30
- Going up 21-8 in set three, Wake Forest saw its biggest lead of the fall in a single set up to date.
- Wake Forest and Navy competed against each other for a second straight year and only the third time in series history, as the Deacs have now taken the last two meetings:
- W, 3-0 – Sept. 7, 2025
- W, 3-0 – Sept. 1, 2024
- In all three matches of the Deacs' slate within the Kristen Dickmann Invitational, Emma Farrell finished or tied as the match leader in digs.
- The senior libero is now only 10 digs away from reaching 1,500 for her career.
- Kelis Hawkins posted 14 total blocks through the invitational.
- Emma Farrell reached over 400 career assists during the match.
- Sanaa Williams notched her 100th career kill during the contest.
- Junior Elena Dragani made her first appearance of the season on Sunday.
"That was a nice bounce-back win for us," said head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer. "I was really excited about the way that we played as a group, especially through a challenging weekend coming into an important third set. It was a great afternoon for Paige (Crawford), leading us in kills. We received great contributions from many players – I especially loved seeing our solid block. That's something that's been coming along the last two matches. We've gotten better and have a lot to build on."
Up Next
Wake Forest continues its road stretch into next week, set for a Wednesday matchup (Sept. 10) at Alabama in the 2025 Showdown at the Net ACC/SEC Challenge. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET and the contest will air on SEC Network+.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Team Stats
WF
Navy
Kills
48
27
Errors
17
15
Attempts
103
97
Hitting %
.301
.124
Points
63.0
31.0
Assists
43
26
Aces
6
2
Blocks
9
2
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
5
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
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MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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OH/RS
/ Women's VolleyballRS/OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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