Deacs Face Off Against Seminoles in Exciting ACC Home Opener Showdown

Wake Forest Volleyball Falls to Florida State in Thrilling Five-Set Match

Wake Forest vs. Florida State: A Five-Set Thriller

The Wake Forest volleyball team returned to Varsity Arena to open their October matches against Florida State, marking their home opener in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Despite a determined effort, the Demon Deacons (7-7, 1-2 ACC) fell in a tightly contested five-set match, losing 3-2 to the Seminoles (8-4, 2-1 ACC).

Strong Defensive Performance by the Deacs

Redshirt junior Sanaa Williams stood out defensively for Wake Forest with a career-high 10 blocks, helping the team achieve a total of 14 blocks. Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle led the team in kills with 13, while senior Paige Crawford contributed 12 kills and matched her career-best with three blocks. Crawford also secured 10 digs, marking her second double-double of the season.

Notable Performances on the Court

• Senior Rian Baker achieved her third double-double of the year with 23 assists and 12 digs.
• Sophomore Becca Bellows had an impressive 26 assists, tying for the match lead, alongside seven digs and three service aces.
• Freshman Kelis Hawkins tied her season high with nine kills and added four blocks.
• Junior Patrycja Lagida and freshman Sadie Poeck also made significant contributions with nine and seven kills, respectively.
• Senior libero Emma Farrell led the defensive efforts with 15 digs, marking her sixth time achieving 15 or more digs in the last seven matches.

Match Highlights

The tightly fought match saw a series of intense set battles. In the first set, Wake Forest overcame an early deficit to secure a 25-22 victory, showcasing strong teamwork and individual excellence from Whitekettle and Williams. Florida State rebounded in the second set with a commanding 25-13 win.

The third set was a nail-biter with both teams trading points, but Florida State eked out a 25-23 win. Wake Forest rallied in the fourth set with a dominating 25-15 performance. However, despite a valiant effort and standout plays from Hawkins and Whitekettle, the Seminoles clinched the final set 15-12, taking the match.

Statements from Coach Hulsmeyer

Head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer expressed pride in the team’s effort, stating, “There were several times where we could’ve faded away, but the players just kept battling back.” He emphasized the need for continued improvement, adding, “We’re not satisfied with the outcome but will go back to the gym tomorrow and get better.”

Upcoming Challenge Against Miami

Wake Forest will face No. 22 Miami in their next home game at Varsity Arena on Sunday, with the first serve set for 1 p.m. Fans can watch the contest on ACC Network Extra. The Demon Deacons are eager to refine their strategies and aim for a victory against the nationally ranked Hurricanes.