Nov. 3, 2016
By Robby Hamman
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Irish (18-6, 9-3) travel to the state of North Carolina over the upcoming weekend for ACC matches against Wake Forest at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 and at Duke at noon on Sunday, Nov. 6.
WEEKEND MATCHUPS
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C. | Durham, N.C.
Schedule: Friday, Nov. 4 — 7:30 p.m. EST at Wake Forest |
Sunday, Nov. 6 — noon EST at Duke | LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAM
Twitter Updates: @NDVolleyball
MOST ACC WINS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
The Irish are in the midst of their breakout season in the ACC. The team is currently 9-3 in the league, its best start since joining the conference in 2013. Notre Dame’s nine victories are already the most the program has recorded in a single season in the ACC.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Irish have been exceptional when playing away from home this season, posting a record of 10-1 in road and neutral matches this season. Notre Dame is undefeated on the road in the ACC posting victories over Miami, Syracusem Boston College, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech all in straight sets. The 10 wins are the most for the Irish since also winning 10 matches away from home in 2010.
SOPHOMORE’S SERVE AND PASS
Ryann DeJarld excels at arguably two of the most important aspects of volleyball: the serve and pass. The sophomore ranks third in the ACC in aces per set with an average of 0.39, dishing out 33 aces in 85 sets. The Chicago native also ranks second in the conference in digs per set, averaging 4.88. DeJarld produced a career-high 40 digs earlier this season in a five-set thriller against No. 8 UNC earlier this season.
SCOUTING THE IRISH
Notre Dame has a record of 18-6 on the season and 9-3 in the ACC. The Irish have already won 11 more matches than during the 2015 campaign and have recorded the most ACC wins in program history. Notre Dame dropped two matches last weekend, as the team was without junior setter Caroline Holt, who leads the ACC in assists per set. The Irish are the top serving team in the conference, as the team averages 1.93 aces per set. Individually freshman Jemma Yeadon leads the attack, averaging a team-high 2.84 kills per set.
SCOUTING THE DEMON DEACONS
Wake Forest enters Friday with a 9-14 record on the season and 5-7 mark in the ACC. Last weekend Wake Forest fell to Syracuse by a final of 3-2 before dropping a 3-1 decision at Boston College. The Demon Deacons’ attack is led by the duo of Kylie Long and Caroline Rassenfoss, as the pair ranks fourth and seventh in the league in kills per set, respectively.
SERIES HISTORY VS. WAKE FOREST
The Demon Deacons hold a 3-2 advantage over the Irish but Notre Dame won this season’s first matchup, winning by a final of 3-1 on Oct. 2. The Irish won the first matchup between the two sides in October 1982.
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS
Duke is 16-6 on the season and coming off a 2-0 weekend as it recorded wins over Boston College (3-1) and Syracuse (3-1). The Blue Devils rank third in the ACC in opponent hitting percentage, holding the opposition to a clip of just .167. A major reason for the great defensive numbers is the team average 18.29 digs per set, which leads the ACC. The Duke defense is led by senior Sasha Karelov, who averages 5.40 digs per set this seasonto lead the conference.
SERIES HISTORY VS. DUKE
The Irish lead the Blue Devils 7-5 in the all-time series. Notre Dame won the first matchup of the season 3-1, snapping Duke’s four match winning streak in the series. Notre Dame’s last victory at Duke (3-0) came in 1998.
— 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.