Wake Forest to Face Off Against LSU, Houston to Open 2026 Season

Friday, August 28

Baton Rouge, La.

7 p.m.

Wake Forest University

LSU

Wake Forest to Face Off Against LSU, Houston to Open 2026 Season

8/27/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

The Demon Deacons open the season against LSU on Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on the Cougars in a neutral-site match on Saturday at 1 p.m.

By: KJ Smith

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Wake Forest volleyball team is set to open its 2026 season this weekend, facing off against LSU and Houston at the LSU Home Tournament at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The Demon Deacons kick off the season against the Tigers on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m., with the match being streamed live on SEC Network+. Tickets for the match against LSU are available for purchase here.

The Deacs will conclude their opening weekend against the Cougars on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m.

The Matches
Friday, August 28
Wake Forest at LSU - 7 p.m.

Saturday, August 29
Wake Forest vs. Houston - 1 p.m.

The Hulsmeyer Era Continues
Following a solid 2025 season, head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer enters his second year at Wake Forest. During his first season at the helm, Hulsmeyer led the Demon Deacons to a 15-win season, including nine wins in conference play, the most since the 2010 season. Additionally, the Deacs finished ninth in the ACC after being picked to finish 15th at the beginning of the season.

Returning Production
The Demon Deacons return eight players from the 2025 season, including five starters. Additionally, the Deacs return five of their top six attackers from a season ago in Patrycja Lagida, Ryleigh Whitekettle, Sadie Poeck, Sanaa Williams and Kelis Hawkins, as well as last season's assist leader in Becca Bellows.

Patrycja Lagida, Outside Hitter
- Lagida made an instant impact in her first season with the Demon Deacons, finishing the 2025 season with 299 kills, which ranked second on the team. The Chotomow, Poland, native also led the Deacs with 32 service aces and ranked sixth in the ACC with 0.38 service aces per set in conference play.
Ryleigh Whitekettle, Right Side
- Appearing in all 31 matches while making 21 starts, Whitekettle ended last season with 307 points and 266 kills, both of which ranked third on the squad. The Topsail Beach, N.C., native also tallied 79 blocks in 2025, moving her within six of 200 career blocks.
Sadie Poeck, Right Side
- In her first collegiate season, Poeck provided a major spark on both sides of the ball as she recorded 149 kills and 56 blocks.
Sanaa Williams, Middle Blocker
- Williams was a force on defense last season for the Deacs, leading the team with 111 total blocks. Additionally, the Nashville native also ranked second on the team with a .309 hitting percentage while tallying 145 kills.
Kelis Hawkins, Middle Blocker
- Hawkins led all freshmen with 101 sets played and was one of six Deacs with more than 100 kills last season. Overall, the Fontana, Calif., native concluded her freshman campaign with 159 kills and 100 total blocks.
Becca Bellows, Setter
- Starting in 21 matches last season, Bellows led the Demon Deacons with 599 assists and 5.30 assists per set. The Wheaton, Ill., native also tallied 29 service aces, which ranked second on the team.

Meet the Newcomers
Wake Forest welcomes nine new faces to the team for the 2026 season, including a class of four transfers:

Andrea Roman, Libero (Arkansas-Little Rock)
- A three-year standout at Arkansas-Little Rock, Roman enters the 2026 season as one of the top defensive specialists and liberos in the country. As a junior, Roman set a school record with 632 digs, which ranked second in the NCAA during the 2025 season. Additionally, her 5.31 digs per set ranked fourth in the country, helping her earn Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-OVC honors.
Catherine Burke, Middle Blocker (Penn State)
- Burke spent the last three seasons at Penn State, appearing in seven contests while also winning the NCAA Championship with the Nittany Lions during the 2024 season.
Amina N'Diaye, Outside Hitter (Miami)
- N'Diaye recorded a productive debut season for the Hurricanes in 2025, finishing third on the team with 139 kills while also recording 78 digs and 31 blocks over the course of 85 sets played.
Laiya Ebo, Right Side (South Carolina/Butler)
- After spending her first two seasons at Butler, Ebo appeared in 19 matches while playing in 54 sets for South Carolina during the 2025 season. The Washington, D.C., native ended her lone year with the Gamecocks with 88 kills and 35 blocks.

The Demon Deacons also welcome in a class of five freshmen in Ava Roddey, Camille McCoy, Emma Keeping, Mattea Saunders and Lyla Stewart.

Series History
Versus LSU

Series: LSU leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 9, 2011
Result: L, 0-3

Versus Houston

Series: Houston leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Aug. 30, 2014
Result: L, 2-3

Scouting the Tigers

LSU finished last season with a 13-14 record, including a 7-4 record against nonconference opponents.
The Tigers return two of their three leading scorers from the 2025 season in senior Jurnee Robinson and junior Jessica Jones, as well as their top two assist leaders in senior Lauren Brooker and sophomore Takyla Brown.
- Robinson led LSU in most statistical categories as a junior, totaling 555 points, 503 kills and 267 digs.
- Along with recording 219 points and 150 kills, Jones led the Tigers on the defensive end with 107 blocks.
- Brooker and Brown combined for more than 1,000 assists a season ago, with Brooker logging 640 assists and Brown adding 400 in her debut season.

Scouting the Cougars

Houston is led by head coach David Rehr, who led the Cougars to their first 30-win season in 2022.
Houston finished last season with a 9-20 record.
- The Cougars opened the season on a five-match win streak, including a win at Duke on Aug. 30.
The Cougars are led by senior Alyssa Gonzales, who finished inside the top five in most statistical categories last season.
- As a junior, Gonzales posted 242.5 points, 215 kills, 141 digs and 34 blocks.
Houston brought in eight transfers ahead of the 2026 season, including Kalei Edson, who logged 482 assists last season at Auburn.

Next Up
The Demon Deacons open their home slate next weekend as they host the Wake Forest Invitational from Sept. 4-6 at Varsity Arena. The Deacs will face Davidson on Friday at 6:30 p.m., UCF on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Georgetown on Sunday at 2 p.m.

All matches are free for spectators and will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.

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