Sept. 24, 2017
By Robby Hamman
RALEIGH, N.C. — Notre Dame (10-3, 0-2 ACC) dropped its second straight five-set match of the weekend on Sunday afternoon, suffering a 3-2 setback (25-17, 19-25, 25-16, 21-25, 15-7) at NC State (7-6, 2-0 ACC).
Sophomore Jemma Yeadon posted a team-high 17 kills on the day and senior Sam Fry added 10 kills for the Irish attack. Senior Caroline Holt finished with 38 assists and 14 digs, while junior Ryann DeJarld paced the Irish in digs with 23.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish got off to a slow start on Sunday, as the Wolfpack took the first set by a score of 25-17. With the first frame tied at 6-6 in the early stages, NC State claimed nine of the next 12 points to build a 15-9 advantage. The hosts never allowed Notre Dame to stage a comeback in the set, taking a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Irish bounced back nicely in the second by taking the set 25-19 to level the match at one set apiece. The Wolfpack went on top early, leading 6-2, but Notre Dame stormed back by going on a 9-1 run to take an 11-7 advantage. After taking the lead the Irish rolled in the second stanza, as NC State trailed by as many as eight points (21-13) before a kill from Yeadon put the set away at 25-19. The Irish were much more efficient in the attack in the second, recording a hitting percentage of .344 (13-2-32).
Notre Dame and NC State played to a 9-9 tie to begin the third set. The Wolfpack then reeled off eight of the next nine points to go on top 17-10. NC State went on to win the third by a final of 25-16 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Irish refocused in the fourth frame and controlled play from start to finish. Notre Dame opened up an early 9-5 lead and managed to never trail in the set. The Wolfpack were able to keep the fourth competitive, twice cutting Notre Dame’s lead to one point but each time the Irish rebounded to take the next point. Notre Dame won each of the last three points of the set to win 25-21 and tie the match at 2-2.
In the fifth and final set, NC State jumped out to a quick 4-0 advantage and the Irish were never able to fully dig out of the early hole. Notre Dame cut the host’s advantage to two at 5-3 but then the Wolfpack won six of the next seven points and went on to win the set 15-7 to take the match 3-2.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Senior Sam Fry finished Sunday with her first double-double of the season, posting 10 kills and 10 blocks. The 10 blocks not only led the Irish on the afternoon but also marked a season-high. Fry’s 10 blocks were just two shy of her career high.
ND STAT OF THE MATCH
Notre Dame finished the match against the Wolfpack with 15.5 team blocks, the most the program has recorded in a match this season. Six Irish players finished with two or more blocks. Fry led the team with 10 and junior Rebecca Nunge added six.
NOTES OF THE MATCH
- The Irish posted 15.5 team blocks against the Wolfpack and have now recorded 10+ team blocks in eight matches this season.
- Five Notre Dame players finished with at least 10 kills.
- DeJarld tallied 20+ digs for the 10th time this season with 23.
- Natalie Johnson recorded 14 digs and has finished in double figures in digs six times during the 2017 campaign.
- Yeadon has recorded at least 10 kills in all 11 matches she has played in during the 2017 season.
- Yeadon notched her eighth double-double in 2017 (17 kills, 13 digs).
UP NEXT
Notre Dame returns to Purcell Pavilion next weekend, hosting a pair of ACC opponents from Florida. The Irish host Miami at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 29 and then welcome Florida State at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For a behind the scenes look at the Notre Dame volleyball program follow the Irish on Twitter (@NDvolleyball), Instagram (@ndvball), Facebook (/NDVolleyball) and Snapchat (NDVolleyball).
— ND —
Robby Hamman joined Fighting Irish Media as athletics communications assistant director in September 2016, coordinating efforts for the volleyball and men’s lacrosse program. Hamman is a 2010 graduate of Bethel College, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in sport management and business administration and earned his master’s degree in business administration from Defiance College in 2013.