Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Notre Dame Moves Up to 15th in National Rankings, Earning Highest Listing Since 1996

Sept. 8, 2003

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – After claiming the championship of the Longhorn Classic over the weekend, the University of Notre Dame volleyball team jumped six spots to 15th in this week’s USA Today/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25, released Monday. The ranking marks the highest for the Irish since Sept. 30, 1996, when they were 12th.

Two weeks into the season, Notre Dame stands 4-1. The Irish, unranked but receiving votes in the preseason, upset #10 Arizona in the opener before falling to #5 Pepperdine in four games on the Waves’ home court. Notre Dame completed the Four Points Sheraton Classic with a win against Eastern Washington and moved into the top 25 last week, at 21st. This past weekend, the Irish claimed the title in the Longhorn Classic with victories over Houston and Texas.

Following five straight road matches to open the season — the longest such streak since 1983 — Notre Dame returns to the Joyce Center this week to begin a seven-match homestand, starting Tuesday at 7 p.m. (EST) with a match against Valparaiso, which boasts an 8-0 record. Tickets for all 2003 Irish home matches are available via the Notre Dame ticket office at (574) 631-7356.