Oct. 18, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Behind a remarkable 42 digs from libero Caroline Wolf, Wake Forest overcame a late University of Notre Dame rally to beat the Irish 3-1 (29-27, 25-17, 19-25, 25-22) in Atlantic Coast Conference volleyball action Sunday afternoon at Purcell Pavilion.
Wolf’s 42 digs were the most by an opponent against the Irish since Tennessee’s Amy Morris also had 42 on November 26, 2005. Arizona State’s Sydney Donahue totaled 43 on September 4, 2005. In 2005 sets went to 30 points.
The two teams gave the fans a treat in set one, as 11 ties and three lead changes highlighted a frame that needed extra points. Notre Dame had set point at 24-23, but back-to-back kills by Matalee Reed and Kylie Long turned the tables on the Irish and gave the Demon Deacons set point. The Irish fought off three set points before another kill by Long and a block by Hanna Lee and Sam Boesch gave Wake a 1-0 lead.
Wake led from beginning to end in set two to take a 2-0 lead in the break. Notre Dame struggled offensively, totaling just six kills while hitting -.061.
Notre Dame battled back to claim set three, turning a 14-14 tie into a 20-16 advantage. Later in the frame, Wake had back-to-back attack errors to give the Irish set point. Two points later, sophomore Maddie Plumlee pounded home a kill off a pass from fellow sophomore Maddie Dilfer to trim the Wake lead to 2-1.
The Demon Deacons finished off the match in set four by going on an 8-4 run that turned a 10-9 lead into an 18-13 advantage. Later in the set the Irish went on a 4-1 run to cut the Wake lead to two at 24-22. However, a kill by Lee finished off the match for the visiting Demon Deacons.
In addition to Wolf’s outrageous effort that saw her give up her body repeatedly to rack up dig after dig, Long had a match-high 19 kills, while Reed had 13 kills, seven digs, five blocks and three service aces.
For Notre Dame, sophomore Sam Fry had 10 kills and five blocks, Plumlee finished with 11 kills and four digs, freshman Rebecca Nunge posted 10 kills, five digs and six blocks and freshman Meg Morningstar had six kills (.375 A%) and 10 blocks.
For Fry it was her 12th double-figure kill effort of the year. Morningstar has now reached double figures in blocks twice in 2015.
Setter Maddie Dilfer tallied her third double-double of the year with 27 assists and 15 digs. The 15 digs tied a career high.
Notre Dame had a strong day at the net, posting 16.0 blocks to nine for Wake Forest. The 16 blocks were the second most this season behind 16.5 versus Syracuse.
Notre Dame (6-14, 1-7 ACC) hit the road in ACC play this week, as the Irish travel to Louisville for a 7 p.m. (ET) Wednesday showdown at the KFC Yum! Center before heading to Charlottesville, Virginia for a 7 p.m. (ET) Friday matchup at Virginia.
–Russell Dorn, Athletics Communications Assistant Director
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