Sept. 9, 2016
By Michael Scholl
KINGSTON R.I. – The Notre Dame volleyball team opened the Art Carmichael Invitational at the University of Rhode Island on Friday afternoon, securing a three-set victory over Stony Brook (25-17, 25-24, 25-12). The victory moves the Irish to 5-2 on the year, with matches against San Diego State and host URI set for Saturday.
There were just three lead changes the entire match, with the Irish leading the way the entire time in the match-clinching third set. Five Notre Dame players registered at least five kills, while the Irish hit at a .345 clip as a team. Driving that attack, junior setter Caroline Holt (Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic/Loyola Chicago) recorded 32 assists, while libero Ryann DeJarld (Chicago, Ill./McAuley) paced the back row with 12 digs.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
With such a spread out attack, singling one player out is tough, but junior Sam Fry (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline) led the way at nine kills while hitting .471. Fry added four digs and a pair of blocks while accounting for a team-best 10.0 points.
THE TURNING POINT
The turning point came early for Notre Dame in its first match of the season away from the friendly confines of Purcell Pavilion. Stony Brook held just two leads on the afternoon, scoring the first point of the first set and the first two points of the second. In the opening frame, the teams traded points early until a kill by Katie Higgins (Kearney, Neb./Kearney) put the Irish up for good, 3-2. That was followed by five straight Notre Dame points with Caroline Holt serving, including an ace, to put the Irish up, 8-2.
NOTE OF THE MATCH
Notre Dame secured a victory in its first match away from home for the first time since the 2010 season. That year, the Irish defeated Belmont in five sets at the Nevada Invitational.
UP NEXT
The Irish play twice tomorrow at the Art Carmichael Invitational. First up is a match with San Diego State at 11 a.m., followed by the tournament finale against the host Rams at 7 p.m.
– ND –
Michael Scholl joined Fighting Irish Media as athletics communications assistant director in August 2016, coordinating efforts for the volleyball and baseball programs at his alma mater. The South Bend native earned a degree in political science from the College of Arts & Letters in 2009 before going on to work in athletics communications at Providence College, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sport administration at the University of Cincinnati.