Sept. 16, 2006
TEMPE, ARIZONA- For the second time in as many nights junior Adrianna Stasiuk (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) led the offensive attack, as the Notre Dame volleyball team (6-4) defeated Duke (7-2) in four games on the second day of the Courtyard by Marriott Classic in Tempe Ariz. on Saturday, Sept. 16 by the scores of 30-27, 19-30, 30-24, 30-25.
Stasiuk had a team leading 14 kills on only 31 attempts for an incredible hitting percentage of .387. She also contributed nine digs for a team-best 19 points. Freshman Christina Kaelin (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) tallied 12 kills while fellow rookie Kim Kristoff (Carmel, Ind./Brebeuf Jesuit Prep) had a steady performance with eight kills and five blocks. Megan Fesl (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) led the squad with 20 digs, to mark the first time this season some one other than senior Danielle Herndon (Plant City, Fla./Durant) was the team leader. Sophomore Justine Stremick (Langdon, N.D./Langdon Area) had a steady performance with nine kills and a .368 hitting percentage.
For the match Notre Dame out hit the Blue Devils .242-.220, out dug them 59-58 while both teams ended with 63 kills.
The Irish jumped out to 10-8 lead on a Stremick kill. The Irish extended the lead to five on another Stremick kill at 15-10. The Blue Devil went on a 12-7 run to tie the game at 22-22, before a Fesl kill gave the Irish the lead for good in the first game. A Blue Devil attack error ended the first game in a 30-27 Notre Dame victory.
The second game saw Duke jump out to an 11-7 lead, before the Irish rallied to tie the match at 11 on an attack error. The Blue Devil rallied and closed on a 19-9 run to take the second game 30-19.
The Irish started strong in the third game as a Stasiuk kill off the dish from Jamel Nicholas (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine-Richland) increased the Irish lead to four at 10-6. After the Blue Devils rallied to take a one-point advantage the Fighting Irish went on a 11-4 run capped off by another Stasiuk kill to take control at 22-17. The Irish closed the game on kill from sophomore Mallorie Croal (Villa Park, Calif./Mater Dei) to win the third game 30-24.
Notre Dame built on the momentum of the third game with a strong start in the fourth game. A Croal kill gave the Irish the early advantage at 12-6. The Blue Devils rallied to get within three, before Notre Dame rallied and won third game and match on back-to-back service aces from Stasiuk. The Irish hit a scorching .342 in the last two games combined.
The Irish will wrap up the Courtyard By Marriott Classic with a 4 p.m. match against the host Arizona State Sun Devil on Sept. 17.