Program-Record Ten Demon Deacons Land ACC All-Academic Honors

As the final moments of January wrap up, Wake Forest volleyball has captured a significant program feat. Multiple program players picked up strong accolades from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), as ultimately ten Demon Deacons were named to the conference’s 2022 All-Academic Team, announced by the league office on Tuesday (Jan. 31).

The ten all-academic selections were a new program record for Wake Forest, breaking the old one of four that was set in 2021-22.

Rian Baker, Paige Crawford, Emma Farrell, Andrea Fuentes, Megan Merril, Olivia Murphy, Emmy Ogogor, Ashley Slater, Peyton Suess, and Kalani Whillock all represented on the list.

Slater has now landed a spot on the conference’s all-academic team for a third straight year, being one of three all-time Deacs to have attained three such nods.

Fuentes and Whillock repeated on the list from a year ago. Suess finished her Deacon tenure with a second career selection after landing a spot as a freshman in 2019. It was a first-time honor for Baker, Crawford, Farrell, Merril, Murphy, and Ogogor.

“This is a great achievement for our program,” said head coach Randi Smart. “Wake’s student-athletes work tirelessly, and their dedication to their education and drive to succeed set our students apart. I am proud to be a part of this group. Congratulations to these ten for their well-earned honor.”

Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester, a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career and have played in at least 50 percent of the team’s contests.

 

Rian Baker | Fr. | Setter | Undeclared

• Finished second on the team in total assists (524)

• Carried a 6.31 assists-per-set average that stood in the top-10 among ACC individuals for a good portion of the season

• Added 151 digs and 24 service aces — marks that were good for fifth and fourth-best on the Demon Deacons’ roster

• Recorded 40 or more assists in each of her first three appearances

• Racked up a season-high 46 assists versus Kennesaw State (Aug. 27) in her debut

• Impressed in conference play, plugging in six matches of 22 or more assists

• Totaled four double-doubles during the fall

• Handed out a season-best four service aces at Notre Dame (Oct. 14)

Paige Crawford | Fr. | Outside Hitter |…