Oct. 23, 2015
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Notre Dame volleyball team got off to a hot start in Friday’s match against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Virginia, as the Irish won the first set and appeared on the brink of taking a 2-0 lead into the break. However, the Cavaliers wouldn’t give up as they rallied to win set two before claiming the final two sets to earn a 3-1 victory (19-25, 25-23, 25-11, 25-16) at Memorial Gym.
It was certainly a tale of two Irish teams against the Cavs, as Notre Dame had 13 kills, hit .393 and posted six blocks in the opening-frame win before totaling just 27 more kills and six blocks the rest of the contest.
A balanced Irish effort saw four different players record two or more kills and five different players take part in a block during a set where Notre Dame took the lead at 14-13 and never looked back.
In set two the Irish appeared poised to claim their first 2-0 lead in an ACC match this season, as they built up a two-point lead at 22-20 and maintained a one-point advantage at 23-22. However, a kill by Virginia’s Natalie Bausback and a pair of critical Irish errors gave the Cavaliers all the momentum entering the break.
After the intermission, Virginia dominated, as the final two sets featured just one tie and one lead change. Notre Dame hit .042 and .226, respectively, in sets three and four, while the Cavs hit a remarkable .571 and .423, respectively.
Notre Dame finished with 12 blocks on the night, but Virginia led in all the other critical categories. The Cavs bested the Irish in kills (57-40), assists (55-36), service aces (8-2) and digs (56-35).
For Virginia, Bausback put together a remarkable match, totaling 15 kills to just two errors (.565 A%) while adding 10 digs, six blocks and a service ace. Haley Kole posted a match-high 17 kills and had five digs and five blocks. Anna Walsh finished with 10 kills, four blocks and three assists.
Setter Lauren Fuller tallied 47 assists, an impressive five service aces, eight digs and two blocks.
For Notre Dame, sophomore middle blocker Sam Fry had 12 kills (.346 A%) and six blocks. Freshmen Meg Morningstar (6K, .333 A%, 5B) and Rebecca Nunge (7K, 5B) also contributed for the Irish.
The Irish (6-16, 1-9 ACC) continue their four-match road trip Halloween weekend with showdowns at NC State Friday (7:30 p.m. ET) and North Carolina Sunday (1 p.m. ET).
–Russell Dorn, Athletics Communications Assistant Director
–ND–