Nov. 3, 2001
The University of Notre Dame volleyball team won its 15th match and ninth BIG EAST Conference contest of the season with a four-game victory (30-26, 24-30, 30-27, 30-20) at West Virginia on Saturday afternoon. The Irish, currently ranked 23rd in the nation, will head to Pittsburgh on Sunday Nov. 3, looking for its 11th BIG EAST victory of the season.
Notre Dame’s team blocking, which has been outstanding this season (ranked seventh in the nation according to the NCAA entering the week), continued to control the net against the Mountaineers. The Irish blocked 16 attacks for the fourth straight match, led by Marcie Bomhack’s career-high nine (including three solo blocks). Kim Fletcher added six blocks, while Malinda Goralski had five and Kristy Kreher four.
The Irish blocking played a large part in Notre Dame holding West Virginia to a .038 hitting percentage. The Mountaineers ended up with 42 kills in the match, but committed 36 attack errors.
Junior defensive specialist Janie Alderete played a crucial role in the Irish defense as well, digging 17 attacks for her ninth double-digit dig match of the season.
Bomhack led the Irish offense in the match with 15 kills (a season-high total) on .444 hitting. Kreher (13), Goralski (13) and Emily Loomis (11) joined Notre Dame’s senior co-captain in the double-digit kill category.
West Virginia was led by Dimitria Havriluk with 15 kills, but Notre Dame was able to hold her to just .068 hitting.