Oct. 18, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three players posted double-figure digs and two more added at least 10 kills as the Notre Dame volleyball team swept West Virginia, 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-23). The BIG EAST Conference win Sunday at the WVU Coliseum improved Notre Dame’s league record to 7-0. Notre Dame (13-4) has now won seven straight matches and 10 of its last 11.
Notre Dame’s three-match road trip continues Friday (Oct. 23) at DePaul.
“Although we weren’t as sharp as I’d like to see us play, the team came together at the right time in order to win today’s match,” Irish head coach Debbie Brown said.
Notre Dame did not drop a single set this weekend by sweeping both Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Four of the team’s league wins have been in three sets.
The Irish were led in digs by sophomore libero Frenchy Silva (21) with senior setter Jamel Nicholas (10) and sophomore outside hitter Kristen Dealy (10) making key defensive contributions. In fact, every Irish player saw significant playing time with nine registering at least one kill, including 18 from senior outside hitter Serinity Phillips and 10 by senior outside hitter Christina Kaelin.
Notre Dame hit .257 with 10 blocks. Phillips led all players with five rejections. Nicholas distributed a match-high 39 assists.
West Virginia (13-10, 3-5) hit .117 including a .023 clip in the first set. The Mountaineers received nine kills from Lauren Evans.
Notre Dame’s second lead of the first set came at 10-9 on a WVU error. At 13-10, the Irish mounted a 6-0 run featuring two kills apiece from Phillips and Kaelin. Dealy and senior middle blocker Tara Enzweiler teamed for a block on set point.
Both Phillips and senior outside hitter Megan Fesl registered five kills in the second set.
Eight kills by Phillips helped wrap up the final frame and Dealy added five more. Nicholas connected on both of her attempts in the form of perfectly-timed dumps.
Freshman middle blocker Hilary Eppink recorded Notre Dame’s only service ace with a streaker in the third set.
Freshman outside hitter Marie Roof blocked her first shot and sophomore middle blocker Megan Barnicle had a career day with five kills on 13 swings with two blocks.
–ND–