Sept. 10, 2017
By Robby Hamman
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Notre Dame volleyball team turned in an excellent performance on Sunday afternoon inside Purcell Pavilion, defeating No. 24 Ohio State 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-14, 25-17) to stay unbeaten at home in 2017 with a record of 4-0. The win is Notre Dame’s first over a ranked opponent since toppling No. 10 Louisville by a score of 3-2 on Sept. 23, 2012.
Sophomore Jemma Yeadon paced the Irish attack with 19 kills and added 19 digs to complete her double-double. Senior Sydney Kuhn also finished with a double-double, recording 16 kills and 13 digs. Junior Ryann DeJarld led Notre Dame in digs with 28 on the afternoon. The Irish block was in top form, finishing with 12.5 for the match as a team.
Check out the highlights from today’s big win over #24 Ohio State! #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/SrHyeqeydc
– Irish Volleyball (@NDvolleyball) September 10, 2017
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish came out of the gates locked in on Sunday afternoon, taking the first set against the Buckeyes 25-22. The first frame was close for throughout, as neither side held more than a three-point advantage. Ohio State held a 13-10 lead but the Irish fought back to take six of the next nine points to tie it up at 16-16. The score moved to 21-21 and Notre Dame claimed the next three points off freshman Madison Cruzado’s serve to help the Irish seal the opener.
Ohio State bounced back from the first set loss by winning the second stanza 25-21. The Buckeyes never trailed in the frame. With the set tied 15-15, Ohio State took the next four points to open up a four-point lead. Notre Dame fought back and drew within one at 21-20 but was unable to complete the comeback, as the Buckeyes leveled the match at 1-1.
Notre Dame came out of the 10-minute intermission refocused and ready to go from the start of the third set, as the Irish dominated the Buckeyes by a score of 25-14 to grab a 2-1 lead in the match. Notre Dame used impressive play at the net to build an early 13-4 advantage, posting five blocks in that span. The Irish led by as many as 12 points (21-9) en route to the third set victory.
The Irish were clinical in closing out the fourth frame, completing the victory by winning the fourth set 25-17. Notre Dame held a 12-10 lead midway through the set and then went on a run by claiming seven of the next eight points to take a commanding 19-11 lead. From there Notre Dame cruised to the win to notch its seventh win of the season.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Yeadon was everywhere for the Irish, totaling 19 kills, 19 digs and three blocks to lead the team to victory. The sophomore now has six double-doubles in the seven matches she has played and has surpassed the 10-dig mark in every match in 2017.
ND STAT OF THE MATCH
The Irish played nearly flawless attacking volleyball against the Buckeyes, recording a season-low eight attacking errors over the four sets of action. For comparison, the opposition totaled 32 attacking errors in the match. Notre Dame’s average of just two errors per set on the afternoon is the best mark this season in a match for the Irish.
HEAD COACH Jim McLaughlin’S TAKE
On the team’s bounce back win over Ohio State
“Our presence was better and we trusted in our game a little bit more. I think our players have to make a journal entry on how they prepared for this game versus Friday’s and then learn from it. I think the biggest thing is you get what you earn and we have been working hard. Things happen because you make it happen and we made a step in the right direction today.”
On the Notre Dame block in the final two sets
“I think Mike [Johnson] got them settled down. They relaxed and saw the setter better and responded to the setter better. That kind of relaxed us and put a lot of pressure on them.”
On only making eight attacking errors in the match
“We have been holding the team to a standard and there are standards to be met, especially with errors and blocks. We think we can meet those standards and be a little bit above them. I think we did that today.”
NOTES OF THE MATCH
- The Irish are 4-0 at home in 2017.
- Notre Dame improves to 4-8 against Ohio State, recording its first win over the Buckeyes since 1991.
- The win is the program’s first over a Big Ten opponent since defeating Wisconsin 3-0 on September 17, 2011.
- Kuhn now has five double-doubles in 2017.
- DeJarld surpassed the 20+ dig mark for the sixth time this season with a team-high 28 digs.
- Caroline Holt recorded her second double-double of the season with a team-best 42 assists and 14 digs. The 14 digs tie the senior’s career-high.
- Holt has accrued at least 40 assists in four matches this season.
- Natalie Johnson has recorded at least one ace in all eight matches this season and has compiled a team-high 19 aces in 2017.
- Jemma Yeadon has recorded 10+ kills in all seven matches she has played in this season.
- Meg Morningstar and Sam Fry each posted five blocks to lead the Irish in the statistical category.
- Freshman Madison Cruzado recorded her first career ace and three digs in the match.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame is back in Purcell Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 15, as the Irish host the Shamrock Invitational. Notre Dame opens the tournament at 7 p.m. ET against Michigan State. The Irish then face Southern Illinois at 12:30 p.m. and Central Michigan at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.
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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.