Aug. 30, 2002
In a strong hitting display, the University of Notre Dame volleyball team earned a three-game victory (30-26, 30-17, 30-26) in its first match of the season over visiting Wisconsin-Milwaukee during the first round of the Shamrock Invitational. The Irish were led by freshman middle blockers Lauren Kelbley (Bascom, Ohio) and Lauren Brewster (Brentwood, Tenn.) who notched double digit kills with 12 and 10, respectively.
Notre Dame controlled the match with accurate hitting (ending up with a .288 team hitting percentage) while dominating at the net for 15 team blocks.
Kelbley and Brewster spearheaded the offense, as both rookies posted hitting percentages above .500 in the contest. Kelbley, who also had two blocks, ended up with 12 kills on 21 attempts with just one error (.524). Her classmate Brewster was perfect in her first collegiate match, going for 10 kills on 18 attempts without an error.
Sophomore Emily Loomis was steady with eight kills and a career-best nine blocks (including three solo blocks) and outstide hitter Jessica Kinder was all over the court collecting seven kills and six digs.
Senior tri-captain Janie Alderete took advantage of the new libero position, digging 10 balls while starting games two and three. Setter Kristen Kinder also had a solid match with 31 assists, four digs and two blocks.
Karen Fruit led UWM with nine kills and nine digs.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee will face Cal Poly on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., while Notre Dame will take on Cincinnati (which lost to Cal Poly in five games on Friday) at 7 p.m..