The Wake Forest Demon Deacons volleyball team has achieved another strong academic performance, with 10 players earning spots on the 2024 All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Team, the league office announced on Thursday.
This marks the second-highest total in program history, tying the 2022 record. Wake Forest was one of only five ACC schools to have 10 or more players honored this year.
Wake Forest Players Named to the 2024 All-ACC Academic Team
Returning Honorees:
- Rian Baker (3rd consecutive year)
- Paige Crawford (3rd consecutive year)
- Olivia Franke (2nd consecutive year)
- Emma Farrell (2nd-time honoree)
- Olivia Murphy (2nd-time honoree)
First-Time Selections:
- Becca Bellows
- Tina Grkovic
- Dhru Lalaji
- Laila Ricks
- Jaime Santer
Academic Eligibility Criteria
To be selected for the All-ACC Academic Team, student-athletes must:
- Have a minimum 3.0 GPA for the previous semester
- Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA throughout their academic career
- Participate in at least 50% of their team’s matches
Key Player Highlights
Rian Baker | Junior | Setter
- Led Wake Forest in assists (593) for the second straight year
- Recorded 2,000+ career assists, making her the 8th all-time in program history
- Notched a career-high 44 assists against Clemson
Paige Crawford | Junior | Outside Hitter
- Led the team in kills (335) for the third straight year
- Surpassed 1,000 career kills on Nov. 24 vs. SMU
- Ranked 14th all-time for service aces in a single season (39)
Emma Farrell | Junior | Libero
- Ranked 7th in the ACC in digs (4.05 per set)
- Recorded 478 digs – 13th best in Wake Forest history for a single season
- Reached 1,000 career digs on Sept. 7 vs. Toledo
Olivia Franke | Graduate Student | Middle Blocker
- Named team co-captain
- Ranks 11th all-time in Wake Forest program history for total blocks (305)
- Finished with 101 kills and 31.0 blocks despite injury
Tina Grkovic | Graduate Student | Middle Blocker
- Ranked in the ACC’s top 10 in blocks for most of the season
- Set a program record with 13 blocks in a five-set match vs. West Virginia
Olivia Murphy | Redshirt Sophomore | Right-Side Hitter
- Recorded career highs with 17 kills and a .654 hitting percentage vs. Davidson
- Finished 4th on the team in kills (170) and blocks (55.0)
With 10 players earning All-ACC Academic honors, Wake Forest volleyball continues to excel both on and off the court. The team’s commitment to academic excellence remains a defining part of the Demon Deacons’ success.
