August 18, 1998

ON A ROLL: The Notre Dame volleyball team heads into the 1998 season having won 76 consecutive matches versus conference opponents: the final 37 in the Midwest Collegiate Conference and the first 39 in the BIG EAST. The 76-match streak ranks third-longest in Division I volleyball history, behind Western Michigan (98, 1982-89) and Arkansas State (97, 1976-81).

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Since Debbie Brown’s arrival in 1991, the Notre Dame volleyball team has won 89 of 101 home matches (.881). That mark includes a 27-match home unbeaten streak (from 1993-95) and a 10-3 record in 1997.

GOING TO CAROLINA: After 1997 trips to Spokane, Wash., and Long Beach, Calif., the Irish in ’98 will only venture as far west as Wisconsin while taking a fall break trip to North Carolina and Florida. North Carolina will be the 27th state visited by the Irish volleyball program during the eight-year tenure of head coach Debbie Brown.

SCOPING OUT THE SITE: For the second straight year, Notre Dame will travel to the site of the upcoming NCAA Championship. The ’98 championships will be held in Madison, Wis., where the Irish will travel to play in the Wisconsin Inntower Invitational, Sept. 11-12. In 1997, the team traveled the Spikeoff Spokane (Wash.) tournament, site of the 1997 NCAAs.

A FABULOUS GROUP: Although three former “Fab-50” players finished their eligibility with the Notre Dame volleyball program following the 1997 season, the Irish managed to add two players from Volleyball magazine’s annual list of top 50 recruits. Freshmen Marcie Bomhack and Malinda Goralski join returning Irish standouts Lindsay Treadwell, Mary Leffers, Denise Boylan, Christi Girton and Jo Jameyson as members of the Notre Dame Volleyball magazine Fab 50 club. Three of those players were also Volleyball magazine prep All-Americans (Leffers, Girton and Bomhack) while Boylan was the Gatorade national high school player of the year.

CHOICE OF A TEXAN GENERATION?: Within the last two seasons, three Texans have made the move to South Bend to give the Irish volleyball program four Texas natives: senior captain and middle blocker Lindsay Treadwell (Austin), versatile sophomore Jo Jameyson (Alvin), sophomore transfer Michelle Graham (Austin) and freshman middle blocker Malinda Goralski (Missouri City). Treadwell and Graham both played for the Austin Juniors volleyball club. Notre Dame’s all-time volleyball roster includes players from 22 different states, led by Indiana (15), California (14), Illinois (11), Michigan (6) and Texas (6). Prior to Treadwell’s arrival in 1995, just two Texans had played for the Irish volleyball program: Zanette Bennett and Tracey Shelton (both of San Antonio).

Coaching and Support Staff

Head Coach: Debbie Brown (Arizona State ’82)
Brown’s Record at Notre Dame: 190-58/.776 (7 years)
Brown’s Career Record: 307-141/.685 (13 years)
Assistant Coaches: Steve Hendricks, Jessica Fiebelkorn-Kerr
Volleyball Administrator: Missy Conboy
Academic Services: Kate Halischak, Peter D’Alonzo
Trainer: Chantal Porter
Manager: Gretchen Goertemiller
Strength and Conditioning: Heather Mason
Volleyball SID: Peggy Curtin
Volleyball Secretary: Doreen Secor

Team Information

1997 Record
25-9 overall, 11-0 BIG EAST
1997 BIG EAST Tournament
2-0, champion
1997 NCAA Tournament
2-1, advanced to Central Regional
Starters Returning
Lindsay Treadwell (Sr., MB)
Mary Leffers (Jr., MB)
Denise Boylan (So., S)
Christi Girton (So., OH/OPP)
Monogram Winners Ret./Lost: 9/4
1998 Captain: Lindsay Treadwell

Personnel Breakdown

Top Returnees

Lindsay Treadwell (Sr. 5-11, middle blocker)

  • 2.25 kills/gm, .300 hitting pct., 129 blocks in 1997
  • 1996 BIG EAST Tournament MVP
  • .301 career hitting pct. (1st in Notre Dame history)
  • Has appeared in 101 of 102 career matches

Mary Leffers (Jr., 6-4, middle blocker)

  • AVCA All-District 1 (1997)
  • 1st Team All-BIG EAST (1997)
  • 2.87 kills/gm, .311 hitting pct., 144 blocks in 1997

Denise Boylan (So., 6-1, setter)

  • AVCA All-District 1 (1997)
  • 2nd Team All-BIG EAST, BIG EAST All-Rookie Team
  • 12.39 assists/gm, 27 aces, 68 blocks in 1997
  • Member of USA national program (summer of 1998)

Top Players Lost

Jaimie Lee (Sr., 5-11, outside hitter)

  • 1997 BIG EAST player of the year, tournament MVP
  • Volleyball magazine hon. mention All-American (’97)
  • AVCA All-District 1 (1995-97)
  • GTE Second Team Academic All-American (1997)
  • 4.55 kills/gm, .304 hitting pct., 22 aces in 1997
  • 1,446 kills and 1,142 digs in her career
  • Member of U.S. national program (1997-98)

Angie Harris (Sr., 6-0, outside hitter)

  • AVCA All-District 1 (1995, 1997)
  • 4.21 kills/gm, .264 hitting pct., 59 aces (0.50/gm) in ’97
  • 1,577 kills and 239 aces in her career

Top Newcomers

Marcie Bomhack (Fr., 6-0, outside hitter)

  • Waukesha, WI (Catholic Memorial HS/Milwaukee Sting)
  • Volleyball magazine Fab 50/hon. mention All-American

Malinda Goralski (Fr., 6-1, middle blocker)

  • Missouri City, TX (Clements HS/Club Texas)
  • Volleyball magazine Fab 50

Roster By Position

Outside Hitter      Middle Blocker          OppositeChristi Girton      Mary Leffers            Emily Schiebout     Jo Jameyson         Lindsay Treadwell       Kristy KreherMandi Powell        Jo Jameyson             Christi GirtonAdrienne Shimmel    Malinda Goralski        Lauren StettinMarcie Bomhack  Emily Tarpoff        Defensive Specialist    Setter                  Audra Duda              Denise Boylan                               Lauren Stettin                             Michelle Graham

Roster By Class

Seniors (2):
Audra Duda, DS
Lindsay Treadwell, MB

Juniors (5):
Mary Leffers, MB
Mandi Powell, OH
Emily Schiebout, MB
Lauren Stettin, OPP
Emily Tarpoff, OH

Sophomores (5):
Denise Boylan, S
Christi Girton, OH
Michelle Graham, S
Jo Jameyson, MB/OPP
Adrienne Shimmel, OH

Freshmen (3):
Marcie Bomhack, OH
Malinda Goralski, MB
Kristy Kreher, OPP

Roster By Height

6-4:    Mary Leffers            6-3:    Christi Girton6-1:    Denise Boylan        Malinda Goralski        Jo Jameyson        Kristy Kreher               Emily Schiebout6-0:    Marcie Bomhack        Lauren Stettin        Emily Tarpoff5-11:   Mandi Powell        Lindsay Treadwell5-10:   Adrienne Shimmel5-8:    Michelle Graham 5-7:    Audra Duda

Roster By Home State

Texas (4):
Malinda Goralski (Missouri City)
Michelle Graham (Austin)
Jo Jameyson (Alvin)
Lindsay Treadwell (Austin)

California (2):
Audra Duda (Woodland Hills)
Adrienne Shimmel (Mission Viejo)

Illinois (2):
Denise Boylan (Lisle)
Lauren Stettin (Burr Ridge)

Indiana (2):
Christi Girton (Muncie)
Mandi Powell (Monrovia)

Michigan (2):
Kristy Kreher (Birmingham)
Emily Tarpoff (East Lansing)

Florida (1):
Mary Leffers (Tampa)

Minnesota (1):
Emily Schiebout (Blaine)

Wisconsin (1):
Marcie Bomhack (Waukesha)