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Notre Dame Set to Host Miami and Florida State Over Weekend

Oct. 27, 2016

Notre Dame Notes

By Robby Hamman

NOTRE DAME, Ind. —
The Irish (18-4, 9-1) welcome two teams from the Sunshine State to Notre Dame this weekend, as the team takes on Miami at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 and No. 11 Florida State at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30.

WEEKEND MATCHUPS

Location: Notre Dame, Ind. | Purcell Pavilion
Schedule: Friday, Oct. 28 — 7 p.m. EST vs. Miami | | LIVE STREAM
Sunday, Oct. 30 — 1 p.m. EST vs. No. 11 Florida State | | LIVE STREAM
Twitter Updates: @NDVolleyball

PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAYS

  • Friday’s match against Miami will be free admission for all fans.
  • Friday is Block Out Cancer Night – There will be a silent auction and t-shirt sale with all proceeds going towards the fight against cancer.
  • Sunday will be “Volloween” – Kids wearing costumes get in free / Pre-match Trick or Treat at the Joyce / Post-match movie on the video board

MOST ACC WINS IN PROGRAM HISTORY

The Irish are in the midst of their breakout season in the ACC. The team is currently 9-1 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.

SOPHOMORE’S SERVE AND PASS

Ryann DeJarld excels at arguably two of the most important aspects of volleyball: the serve and pass. The sophomore leads the ACC in aces per set with an average of 0.41, dishing out 31 aces in 76 sets. The Chicago native also ranks second in the conference in digs per set, averaging 4.87. DeJarld produced a career-high 40 digs earlier this season in a five-set thriller against No. 8 UNC earlier this season.

HERE TO SERVE

Notre Dame enters the weekend ranked sixth nationally in aces per set, recording an average of 1.95. The Irish have dished out 148 aces this season to lead the ACC. A trio of Irish players rank in the top 10 in the ACC for aces per set, as Ryann DeJarld leads the league in aces per set in with an average of 0.41. Sam Fry is third in the conference with an average of 0.39 and Sydney Kuhn is in a tie for eighth with 0.30 per set. Notre Dame has produced five or more aces in 19-of-22 matches this season.

SETTING THE TONE

Junior Caroline Holt leads the ACC in assists per set with an average of 10.97. The junior has 834 assists on the season and has recorded 30+ assists in 20-of-22 matches in 2016, including three outings of 50 or more assists. Holt had a season-high 64 assists in the 3-2 victory over Howard on Sept. 3. The Bloomington, Illinois native also ranks second on the Irish with three double-doubles.

SCOUTING THE IRISH

Notre Dame is playing its best volleyball of the season at the moment, as the team enters weekend play winners of 10 of its last 11 matches, including an active three-match winning streak. Not only have the Irish been winning matches, but they have been dominant in doing so, recording 13 straight-set victories on the season. Notre Dame has really hit its stride in ACC action, as it boasts a 9-1 mark in league play. The Irish are coming off a successful weekend on the road, recording sweeps of Pitt and Virginia Tech to stay in the hunt for the ACC crown.

SCOUTING THE HURRICANES

Miami has struggled in the ACC this season, coming into Friday’s match with a 3-7 record in league play. However, the Hurricanes have won two of their last three contests, defeating Virginia Tech and Virginia in straight sets. Miami’s other conference win came over Boston College on Sept. 30. One of the Hurricanes’ strengths is the serve, as the team ranks third in the ACC in aces per set with a mark of 1.33. Individually Miami has one of the top hitters in the conference in Olga Strantzali, who leads the ACC in kills per set with an average of 4.53. The junior also leads the team and ranks second in the league in aces per set with an average of 0.41.

SERIES HISTORY VS. MIAMI

The Irish hold a 6-4 advantage over the Hurricanes in the all-time series, which includes the 3-0 Notre Dame victory from earlier this season in Coral Gables, Florida. The win snapped Notre Dame’s three match losing streak to Miami. The Irish are 3-0 against the Hurricanes when playing at home.

SCOUTING THE SEMINOLES

Florida State enters the weekend in a deadlock for second place in the ACC, as both programs sport 9-1 records in league play. The Seminoles have won five straight matches, picking up victories over NC State, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Miami and Virginia. Like Notre Dame, the Seminoles lone conference blemish came at the hands of North Carolina, as the Tar Heels defeated Florida State in straight sets on Oct. 7. The Seminoles run a very efficient attack, posting a hitting percentage of .259 on the season to rank second in the ACC. Florida State also thrives defensively at the net, as it leads the league in blocks per set with an average of 2.89. Senior Mara Green sits atop the ACC rankings in hitting percentage with a mark of .378 while senior Melanie Keil leads the league in blocks, averaging 1.67 per set.

SERIES HISTORY VS. FLORIDA STATE

The Seminoles hold a 9-2 advantage over the Irish in the all-time series and have won the last six meetings. Notre Dame’s last win against Florida State came in a four-set win in 2000. The Irish are 1-2 when playing the Seminoles at Notre Dame.

— 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.