Oct. 29, 2017
By Robby Hamman
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame (16-7, 6-6 ACC) was upended by Pitt (17-6, 10-2 ACC) on Sunday afternoon by a score of 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-21). Senior Sam Fry and junior Rebecca Nunge led the team in kills with seven apiece. Sunday’s match was the 11th annual Block Out Cancer event.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Pitt jumped out to an early lead in the first frame and controlled the set, taking the opener 25-16 to build an early 1-0 advantage in the match. Kuhn came off the bench and led the team in kills for the set with four.
The Panthers continued to put pressure on the Irish, claiming the first seven points of the second set to take an early lead. Notre Dame tried to claw its way back into the set, twice cutting the Pitt lead to four but was unable to get any closer, as the Panthers took the set 25-16 to open a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Irish regrouped after the 10-minute intermission and played much better in the early stages of the third set. Notre Dame led by as many as seven points midway through the stanza with the score 15-8. The Irish held a five-point advantage at 20-15 and then the Pitt attack came alive. Notre Dame could not hold off the Panther charge late, as Pitt won 10 of the final 11 points to win the set 25-21 and take the match 3-0.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Fry tied for the team-high in kills with seven and posted an impressive hitting percentage of .462 on Sunday. The senior also added two blocks and a dig to complete her performance.
NOTES OF THE MATCH
- Ryann DeJarld led the Irish with 11 digs.
- Nunge has recorded at least four blocks in six of her last seven matches.
- Natalie Johnson has recorded at least one ace in eight consecutive outings.
- Hannah Thompson made her first start at home in her career.
- Halle Truett made her Notre Dame debut on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame hits the road for a pair of ACC matches in the state of North Carolina. The Irish take on Duke at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 3 and then play at Wake Forest at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 5.
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— 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.