Breaking News: Wake Forest Volleyball Falls 3-1 to No. 7 Louisville Despite Strong Effort and Milestone Achievements; Deacs to Hit the Road for Next Two Weeks
In a hard-fought battle at the Wake Forest Volleyball home court on Sunday, the Demon Deacons (11-14, 5-9 ACC) put up a valiant fight against the No. 7 Louisville Cardinals (20-4, 12-2 ACC) but ultimately fell short, losing 3-1. The Deacs earned a crucial second set victory but were unable to maintain their momentum, dropping the final two sets.
Sophomore setter Becca Bellows reached a significant milestone during the match, recording her 1,000th career assist. The Wheaton, Ill., native has been a consistent force for the Deacs this season, tallying double-digit assists in all but one of the team’s 25 matches. Bellows finished the day with 17 assists.
Graduate student Ryleigh Whitekettle led the Deacs in kills with 11, posting a .364 hitting percentage and adding four blocks. Senior outside hitter Paige Crawford contributed 10 kills and four digs, while freshman middle blocker Ivana Cvetkovic made a significant impact on the defensive end with a team-high six blocks.
Senior libero Emma Farrell paced the Demon Deacons’ defense with a team-best 12 digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Dhru Lalaji added six digs and a pair of service aces. Junior outside hitter Patrycja Lagida totaled nine kills and eight digs, while senior setter Rian Baker was close to a double-double with 19 assists and eight digs. Redshirt junior middle blocker Sanaa Williams went 9-for-15 on attacks with only one error (.533).
The Deacs started strong, winning the first point of the match on a tip by Lagida. They maintained a lead early in the first set but were unable to hold off the Cardinals, who secured the set 25-16 on the longest rally of the day.
Wake Forest rallied in the second set, with Whitekettle and Crawford leading the charge. The Deacs earned a crucial 25-20 victory to level the match at one set apiece. However, Louisville responded by winning the next two sets 25-18 and 25-17, securing the match victory.
Head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer praised the team’s effort and the support of the home crowd but acknowledged the need for improvement on the road. The Deacs will embark on a two-week road stretch next, with matches at Syracuse on Nov. 14 and Boston College on Nov. 16.
Follow @WakeVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for updates on the team’s journey as they hit the road for the next two weeks. For more information on Wake Forest Volleyball, visit GoDeacs.com.
Wake Forest Volleyball Fights Hard but Falls Short Against No. 7 Louisville
The Wake Forest volleyball team faced off against the No. 7 Louisville Cardinals in a thrilling Sunday afternoon match at their home court. Despite a valiant effort and a second set victory, the Demon Deacons ultimately fell short, losing 3-1.
How it Unfolded
The match began with Wake Forest securing the first point on a tip from Patrycja Lagida. However, Louisville quickly responded with a 6-0 run, Forcing Wake Forest to take their first timeout. The Deacs fought back, winning their first challenge and taking a 20-11 lead on a kill from Ryleigh Whitekettle. But the Cardinals held on to win the first set 25-16.
Wake Forest refused to go down without a fight. They took the second set 25-20 behind strong performances from Whitekettle and Lagida. Whitekettle led the team with 11 kills, while Lagida chipped in with 9. Sophomore setter Becca Bellows reached a significant milestone, recording her 1,000th career assist in the set.
Louisville regrouped and took the third set 25-18. The fourth set was a seesaw battle, but the Cardinals ultimately prevailed 25-17 to seal the match.
Key Performances
Graduate student **Ryleigh Whitekettle** led the Deacs in kills with 11, posting a .364 hitting percentage and adding four blocks. Senior **Paige Crawford** chipped in with 10 kills and four digs. Freshman **Ivana Cvetkovic** impressed on the defensive end, finishing with a team-high six blocks.
Senior **Emma Farrell** paced the Demon Deacons’ defense with a team-best 12 digs. Joining her in the back line, sophomore **Dhru Lalaji** added six digs and a pair of service aces.
From the Sidelines
*”I want to give thanks to our home crowd again for showing up and creating a wonderful atmosphere,” said head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer. “We have the best fans and it is amazing to see the support we receive every time we compete in our gym. As far as the match, I was proud of our effort and the will we showed to stay in it, earning that second set and getting off to a strong start in the third. Louisville did well in creating leads near the end of sets, being able to hang on. Our defense played with hustle and we saw solid play offensively from several players… I’m excited to see how we respond [on the road]”
Up Next
The Deacs will hit the road for a two-week stretch, starting with matches against Syracuse (Nov. 14) and Boston College (Nov. 16).
Follow the Deacs
Keep up with the latest from Wake Forest volleyball on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and GoDeacs.com.
FAQs
- Who led the Demon Deacons in kills? Ryleigh Whitekettle led the team with 11 kills.
- Who recorded the most digs for Wake Forest? Emma Farrell led the team with 12 digs.
- What was the final score of the match? The final score was 3-1 in favor of Louisville.
Pro Tip
Buy tickets for upcoming away matches to support the Deacs on the road!
Did you know?
Becca Bellows became the second Demon Deacon to notch a significant 1,000-plus milestone this fall, joining Emma Farrell, who reached over 1,500 career digs earlier in the season.
Comment below with your thoughts on the match!