On October 16, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons will step onto the national stage as they host Virginia in a primetime showdown on the ACC Network, kicking off at 6 p.m.
The match marks the culmination of a whirlwind schedule that began with home games against Iowa and Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on August 28 and 30, a series that set the tone for a season that would see the Deacons finish with a 15‑5 record and an unblemished home slate.
A Legacy of Leadership
Head coach Jen Averill, now in her 35th year at the helm, will lead a roster bolstered by returning stars Mia Schoenbeck, who earned ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors, defensive standout Mia Montag, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and freshman sensation Reabetswe Phume, who captured the ACC Freshman of the Year award.
Averill’s long‑standing presence has become synonymous with excellence; she has guided the program to three consecutive NCAA titles between 2002 and 2004, amassed nine ACC Coach of the Year awards, and recently added another accolade in 2025.
The upcoming contest also carries historical weight, as it will be the first televised meeting between Wake Forest and Virginia since the Deacons’ 3‑2 victory in March 2020, a win that ended a drought of home triumphs over the Cavaliers.
With eight freshmen joining the squad, the team looks poised to extend its recent run of success, aiming to build on a 56th season that has already rewritten record books for home undefeated streaks and overall dominance.