Sept. 28, 2017
By Robby Hamman
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Irish look to get back on track this weekend against two quality opponents from the Sunshine State, as Notre Dame welcomes Miami and Florida State to the Joyce Center. The Irish and Hurricanes will take the floor at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 29 and then Notre Dame takes on No. 21 Florida State at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1.
WEEKEND MATCHUPS
Location: Notre Dame | Purcell Pavilion
Schedule: Friday, Sept. 29 — 7 p.m. EST vs. Miami | | LIVE STREAM
Sunday, Oct. 1 — 1 p.m. EST vs. Florida State | | LIVE STREAM
Twitter Updates: @NDVolleyball
FRIDAY IS HARRY POTTER NIGHT
The first 500 fans who attend Friday night’s match against Miami will receive a Harry Potter themed Notre Dame Volleyball t-shirt. Purchase tickets here.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MIAMI & FLORIDA STATE
The Irish and Hurricanes will meet on the court for the 12th time on Friday evening, as Notre Dame holds a 6-5 edge in the all-time series. The two sides split last season’s series, with both teams winning the road matches.
Notre Dame trails Florida State in the all-time series, going 2-10 against the Seminoles. The last win for the Irish came in a 3-1 victory in the Lady Seminole Classic during the 2000 season in Tallahassee.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Notre Dame has been exceptional this season when playing at home, beginning the year with a perfect record of 7-0. The Irish have defeated two ranked Big Ten teams on campus, recording wins over No. 24 Ohio State and No. 23 Michigan State. Notre Dame has also claimed two tournament titles, winning the Golden Dome and Shamrock Invitationals.
BLOCK PARTY
The Irish have been a force at the net defensively this season, pacing the ACC in blocks per set and ranking 17th nationally with an average of 2.86. Notre Dame has finished in double figures for team blocks in five of its last six outings and recorded a season-high 15.5 against NC State (9/24).
Meg Morningstar and Sam Fry rank first and second, respectively, in the ACC for blocks per set. Morningstar leads the way with an average of 1.39 and Fry is right behind with a mark of 1.36.
DIGGING IT
The Notre Dame defense has played admirably through its first 13 matches this season, averaging 18.81 digs per set to pace the ACC and rank second in the country. The Irish posted a season-high 106 digs in the season-opening win over Valparaiso.
Libero Ryann DeJarld is second in the NCAA in digs, recording an average of 6.32 digs per set. DeJarld set the program record for most digs in a four-set match earlier this season with 38 against Valparaiso. The libero has posted 20+ digs in 10-of-13 matches this season.
THE ONE AND ONLY
Notre Dame head coach Jim McLaughlin is the only volleyball head coach to have captured an NCAA title on both the men’s and women’s sides. McLaughlin began his coaching career as a men’s coach and won the championship with USC during the 1989-90 season, his first season as a head coach. McLaughlin claimed a title on the women’s side with Washington in 2005, posting a 32-1 record en route to the championship.
— 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.