CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — The Notre Dame volleyball team erased a 2-1 deficit to take down Boston College in five sets (21-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-21, 15-5) on Sunday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
With the victory, the Irish improve to 16-6 overall and 9-3 in the ACC.
Charley Niego led all players with 22 kills and a .308 hitting percentage while Sydney Bent recorded 19 kills with a .310 hitting percentage. Zoe Nunez notched 54 assists for the Irish attack.
Defensively, Madison Cruzado and Caroline Meuth paced the Irish with 14 digs each. Niego added 11 digs to complete the double-double.
The Irish out-blocked Boston College 9-6 and sophomore Lauren Wenzel led all players with five total blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Eagles opened up an 11-4 lead to open the first set to force an early Irish timeout. Boston College maintained at least a five-point lead until back-to-back kills by Bent got the Irish within four at 19-15. The Eagles worked to a 21-15 advantage before Notre Dame earned four of the next six points to make it 22-19. However, Boston College held on to take the first set, 25-21.
Second Set
The sides began the second stanza in a 7-7 tie before a 4-2 Notre Dame spurt put the Irish up 11-9. The Irish maintained the advantage until three straight Eagles points gave the hosts a 14-13 lead. Notre Dame responded with four consecutive points, including three straight kills by Bent, to lead 17-14. Boston College answered with a 5-3 stretch to cut the Irish lead to 20-19. Two kills by Niego down the stretch helped Notre Dame hold the lead and take set two, 25-22.
Third Set
Boston College jumped out to a 12-5 lead in set three and stayed in control to win the frame, 25-13.
Fourth Set
The Irish and Eagles opened the stanza in a 6-6 tie before Boston College worked to earn a 15-10 advantage. Notre Dame used a 4-0 run, which included kills by Baer and Niego, to cut the Eagles’ lead to 15-14. However, the Eagles earned the next two points to go up 17-14. After BC took a 19-16 lead, the Irish rattled off six straight points to go up 22-19. BC made the score 22-21 before the Irish closed the set with three straight points to take the frame, 25-21.
Fifth Set
The Irish dominated the decisive set from start-to-finish to clinch the five-set victory. Three kills by Meuth helped Notre Dame earn an 8-2 lead to begin the stanza. The Irish closed the set on a 5-1 streak to capture the fifth frame, 15-5, and earn the 3-2 win.
UP NEXT
The Irish go back on the road next weekend to take on Florida State and Miami. Notre Dame takes on the Seminoles in Tallahassee on Friday, November 8th at 6:30 p.m. before facing the Hurricanes on Sunday, November 10th at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
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—ND—