Nov. 30, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Syracuse University volleyball team used a strong front line that stuffed 19 Notre Dame attacks to take down the Irish, 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20), Saturday afternoon at Purcell Pavilion.
The Irish (13-18, 7-13 ACC) struggled for much of the day on offense as they hit .138 by totaling 43 kills and 25 errors in 130 attempts. The Syracuse front line didn’t help matters as four players each recorded six or more total blocks, led by 10 from junior Lindsay McCabe and nine from sophomore Monika Salkute.
On offense, `Cuse hit .270 and had 58 kills. Sophomore Silvi Uattara paced the Orange with 16 kills while adding 13 digs, seven blocks and two service aces. Junior Nicolette Serratore added 15 kills and Salkute had 12 kills while hitting a remarkable .611.
For the Irish, senior Nicole Smith continued her impressive last month of the season with a team-high 14 kills. Since Oct. 20 against Florida State (13 matches), the Franklin, Tenn., native totaled a team-high 135 kills (2.76 per set) and had seven matches with 10 or more kills including a career-high 17 against Boston College Friday.
Joining Smith in double figures was junior Toni Alugbue, who produced 12 kills while hitting an impressive .455.
Playing in their final match in an Irish uniform, libero Andrea McHugh had a match-high 17 digs, setter Maggie Brindock had 34 assists and 12 digs to record her eighth double-double season, middle blocker Andie Olsen had three kills and four blocks and right side hitter Sammie Brown had two kills, two service aces and three digs.
The senior class was recognized in a pre-match ceremony and Olsen sang the national anthem.
For more information on Notre Dame volleyball follow the Irish on Facebook (/NDVolleyball) and Twitter (@NDVolleyball).
— Russell Dorn, Assistant Media Relations Director
–ND–