NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame will face No. 19 Michigan in a pair of matches this weekend. The Irish will start the weekend off in Ann Arbor at 7 p.m. ET on Friday evening. The match will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. The Irish then return to Purcell Pavilion for a home match against the Wolverines at 1 p.m. ET o Sunday, Sept. 16. The match will air on ACC Network Extra via the WatchESPN app.
NOTRE DAME VS. MICHIGAN DETAILS
Location: Friday – Ann Arbor, Michigan – Crisler Center | Sunday – Notre Dame, Ind. – Purcell Pavilion
How To Watch: Big Ten Network (Friday) | ACC Network Extra (Sunday)
Live Stats: Click Here (Friday) | Click Here (Sunday)
Twitter Updates: @NDVolleyball
Game Notes: Michigan Notes
SERIES HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN
Notre Dame has had the upper hand against Michigan, holding a record of 8-5 in the all-time series. The Irish are 5-1 against the Wolverines when playing at home and 3-3 when playing in Ann Arbor. The two sides haven’t played since the 2009 season.
ACING THE TEST
The Irish have been dominant from the service stripe this season, averaging 2.26 aces per set through eight matches to rank first in the country. Notre Dame pounded out a season-high 12 aces against Weber State and Oakland. Freshman Sydney Bent paces the Irish with an average of 0.58 aces per set.
SHATTERING RECORDS
Ryann DeJarld became Notre Dame’s all-time career dig record holder last season as a junior. The Chicago native has 1,905 digs over her four seasons. DeJarld also set the single-season digs record in 2017, amassing 747 digs for an average of 6.12 digs per set (ranked fourth in the country).
BREAK OUT THE BROOMS
All six of Notre Dame’s wins have come in straight-set fashion during the 2018 season. The Irish have recorded sweeps over Weber State, Toledo, Northern Kentucky, Oakland, Miami (OH) and Chattanooga.
IRISH VS. THE BIG TEN
The two matches against Michigan will be the fifth and sixth contests for Notre Dame against Big Ten opponents in the last two seasons. The Irish are 2-2 against the Big Ten in that span, recording victories over Michigan State (3-0, 2017) and Ohio State (3-1, 2017) while suffering defeats to Ohio State (0-3, 2017 and Purdue (1-3, 2018).
FEATURED FRESHMEN
The freshmen duo of Zoe Nunez and Charley Niego have featured heavily on the court for the Irish this season. Nunez has been the team’s starting setter and Niego has received action at outside hitter. Nunez currently has 245 assists, 62 digs, 18 blocks and 16 kills while Niego is second on the team in kills with 63 and fourth in digs with 61.
DOMINATING DEFENSE
The Irish have been great on defense this season, holding opponents to a hitting percentage of just .094. Notre Dame currently has the second-best hitting-percentage allowed this season, trailing just Michigan (.093) by the slimmest of margins. The Irish have held four opponents under .100 this season and have yet to allow a team to post a percentage of .200 or more.