After taking two losses against Louisville, the Notre Dame volleyball team will go on the road to face Boston College and Syracuse.
Boston College
Last year, the Irish played Boston College to open ACC play and took a 3-2 win in a five-set thriller over the Eagles.
In that matchup, the first set was strong for the Irish, who overcame an early deficit to make a quick comeback. The Eagles started off strong with a 7-3 run, but Notre Dame fought back as they went on a 12-5 scoring run to regain the lead. The Eagles fought back to close the gap to 22-21 but the Irish pulled through to finish the set 25-21. Then junior outside hitter Sydney Palazzolo, junior setter Phyona Schrader, freshman outside hitter Ava Lange and graduate student setter Nicole Drewnick all contributed kills to help the team take the set.
As the two teams battled for the lead in the second set, keeping it within one or two points of each other, Boston College went on a 4-0 run to pull ahead and make the score 13-7. The Eagles kept that momentum going to take the second set 25-16 and tie the overall score at 1-1.
The third set was a hard-fought battle between the two teams, the score tied up seven different times along with three lead changes. While the Irish were trailing late in the set 23-19, Palazzolo, Drewnick and Lange shined with multiple kills to close the gap to 24-22. Two plays later, senior libero Hattie Monson provided a huge dig to help tie the score at 24. The late Irish surge was not enough, however, as Boston College managed the next two points to win 26-24 and make the overall score 2-1.
While the Irish were trailing heading into the fourth set, they did not let it rattle them. They came straight out the gate to take an early 4-1 lead. Notre Dame continued their momentum as they went on a 12-2 run to make the score 17-6. The Irish kept on pushing to take the final 25-15 score and tie the overall score at 2-2.
The two teams battled it out in a very close fifth set, the score tied four times in the early part of the set. Power trio on the court Palazzolo, Drewnick and Schrader provided more kills to help the Irish take control and make the score 12-5. Lange added on a kill which was followed by two Eagles errors en route to a final score of 15-6.
Lange led the Irish attack with 17 kills while Palazzolo had 15 kills and 18 digs. Schrader added 11 kills and Drewnick finished the night with a total of 46 assists and seven kills.
Syracuse
Last year, Notre Dame took a 3-0 win over the Syracuse Orange.
In the first set, the two teams fought back and forth with a total of 16 ties and five lead changes throughout. Notre Dame managed to take a 14-11 lead but the Orange went on a 4-0 run to make the score 15-14. As the teams continued to go back and forth, nearing the end of the set, the score was tied at 23. A kill from Schrader brought the score up but Syracuse answered right back to tie the score at 24. The Irish forced errors on the ensuing two points to make the final score 26-24 and take the first set of the night.
The Irish took the second set in dominant fashion as they never surrendered a lead. After jumping out to a 7-2 lead, they went on a 9-7 run to make the score 15-9 before finishing the set in with ten unanswered for a final score of 25-9 and a 2-0 match lead.
The third and final set of the night went in favor of the Irish as they took a 25-18 win. Halfway through the set, they trailed 15-13, until a huge block from Drewnick ignited a nine point run to make the score 22-15. The two teams went back and forth before Palazzolo closed out the set and the match with the final kill.
She led on the court with 13 kills with Schrader adding 10. Drewnick finished her night with a total of 34 assists and two blocks.
This year the Irish will see Boston College on Friday at 7 p.m. and Syracuse on Sunday at 1 p.m.
