Oct. 30, 2016
By Robby Hamman
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame (18-6, 9-3 ACC) got off to a great start against No. 11 Florida State (18-3, 11-1 ACC) on Sunday afternoon in Purcell Pavilion, winning the first set in impressive fashion. However, the Seminoles proved worthy of their ranking, winning the next three frames to win by a final of 3-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After getting off to an uncharacteristically slow start against Miami on Friday, the Irish came out of the gates firing on Sunday afternoon against the Seminoles. Trailing 6-3 early, Notre Dame went on a 9-2 run to open up a four point advantage at 12-8. The Irish never looked back in the set, as it took the opener 25-17 to take an early 1-0 lead in the match.
The second set was tight throughout. The Irish built a three-point lead at 17-14 but Florida State answered with three points of its own to tie the score at 17-17. With the second stanza knotted up at 24-24, the Seminoles managed to win the final two rallies to narrowly edge the Irish by a score of 26-24 to level the match at 1-1. Florida State continued its strong run of play into the third, as it took control of the set early and won comfortably at 25-14.
The Seminoles led early in the fourth at 10-6 but Notre Dame fought back to cut the deficit to two points at 18-16. However Florida State was too much for the Irish, as it went on to win the set 25-20 to leave with a 3-1 victory.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Natalie Johnson was all over the court in the back row for the Irish against the Seminoles, as the junior matched her career high in digs with 24 to lead the team in the statistical category. The Pasadena, California native has now reached double figures in digs six times this season. Johnson also added an ace and a kill to complete her afternoon.
NOTRE DAME STAT OF THE MATCH
With starting setter Caroline Holt out with an injury, sophomore Rebecca Nunge played multiple roles for Notre Dame. The Newburgh, Indiana product not only fulfilled her role as an outside hitter but also split time as the team’s setter against Florida State. Nunge finished with a double-double, posting 10 kills and a career-high 19 assists. The sophomore also had a personal best two aces and added five digs and two blocks.
NOTES OF THE MATCH
- The Irish trail Florida State in the all-time series with a record of 2-10.
- The Irish are now 8-5 at home.
- Notre Dame has won the first set in 11-of-12 matches.
- The Irish dished out seven aces in the match and has now recorded 5+ aces in 21-of-24 matches this season.
- DeJarld recorded 20+ assists for the ninth time this season with 21 against Florida State.
- Jemma Yeadon led the team in kills with 12. The freshman has posted 10+ kills 13 times this season.
- Sydney Kuhn finished with 10 kills, marking the fourth time she has finished in double figures this in 2016.
- Freshman Hanna Klein recorded a career-high 25 assists.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame is back on the road for two matches next weekend, as the team travels to the state of North Carolina to play at Wake Forest at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 and then heads to Duke for a match at noon on Sunday, Nov. 6.
To purchase tickets visit UND.com/BuyTickets.
— 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.