Irish Sweep Wolfpack, Improve to 2-0 in ACC

Notre Dame improves to 9-3 overall

NOTRE DAME, Ind. —  Sydney Bent notched 13 kills and the Irish defense totaled 11.5 blocks as the Notre Dame volleyball team improved to 9-3 overall (2-0 ACC) with a sweep of NC State on Sunday afternoon inside Purcell Pavilion.

Sophomore Charley Niego added 10 kills for the Irish attack while classmate Zoe Nune earned 29 assists.

Junior libero Madison Cruzado paced the Irish with 12 digs and sophomore Lauren Wenzel had a game-high six total blocks. The Irish limited NC State to a hitting percentage of .075. 

Sunday’s victory marks the second straight sweep for the Irish to open ACC play after Notre Dame took down North Carolina in three sets on Friday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set
NC State jumped out to a 12-7 advantage in the opening set before a 4-0 Irish run cut the Wolfpack’s lead to one. The visitors responded by earning three of the next four points to go up 15-12. Notre Dame bounced back with a 6-1 stretch, which included an ace and kill by Bent, to take an 18-16 lead.  The Wolfpack earned the next two points to once again tie the stanza before the Irish used a 5-1 spurt to go back up, 23-19. Two more kills by Bent clinched the 25-23 set win for the Irish. As a team, Notre Dame racked up 6.5 team blocks in the stanza and limited the Wolfpack to a .075 hitting percentage in the set.

Second Set
The teams traded 4-1 runs en route to a 6-all tie to open the second set. A kill and an ace by Niego spurred a 6-1 Irish streak the put the hosts up 12-7. The Wolfpack answered by earning six of the next eight points to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 14-13. NC State got within one again at 16-15, but the Irish didn’t relinquish the lead en route to a 25-20 victory. Notre Dame also closed the stanza on a 4-1 run that included a pair of kills by Niego. 

Third Set
The sides began the third set in an 8-8 tie before NC State used a 4-1 streak to take a 12-9 lead. The Irish answered with a 4-1 stretch of their own to even the set at 12-all. After the teams battled to a 16-16 tie, the Wolfpack earned three straight points to go up 19-16 and force an Irish timeout. After the break, Notre Dame rattled off six consecutive points, including an ace by Cruzado, to go up 22-19. Three straight Wolfpack attack errors clinched the 25-20 set win and sweep for the Irish. 

UP NEXT
Notre Dame continues its four-game homestand next weekend against another pair of ACC foes. The Irish meet Clemson on Friday (Oct. 4) at 7 p.m. before taking on Georgia Tech on Sunday (Oct. 6) at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ACC Network Extra. For tickets, click here.

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—ND—