Oct. 29, 2011
STORRS, Conn. – Notre Dame failed to convert on three straight attempts at match point while eventually falling to Connecticut, 3-2 (24-26, 25-20, 25-22, 22-25, 16-14), Saturday at Gampel Pavilion. The BIG EAST Conference volleyball loss dropped Notre Dame’s overall record to 12-9 and 5-4 against conference foes.
Connecticut evened its record to 12-12 overall while moving to 5-4 in league play.
Behind 14-11 in the final set, Connecticut came through with the last of Jordan Kirk’s 15 kills, an ace from Devon Maugle and a double block to knot things at 14-14.
When the fifth frame was later tied at 16-16, Jackie Wattles converted a kill and had a solo block to clinch the victory.
Senior Kristen Dealy was steady for the Irish with 15 kills and 16 digs to go along with two of Notre Dame’s 18.0 blocks.
Sophomore Maggie Brindock not only dished out 39 assists and bounced five kills, but also tied for team-high honors with six blocks. Three of those blocks were of the solo variety.
Six blocks also went down for the freshmen duo of Toni Alugbue and Jeni Houser.
Houser added 13 kills with Alugbue chipping in eight.
Two of Notre Dame’s four aces came from sophomore Andrea McHugh, who also had nine kills and 17 digs.
Senior Frenchy Silva led Notre Dame with 20 digs while she was doubled in that category by Connecticut’s Kelsey Maving (40).
Maugle had a match-high 18 kills to go along with her 17 digs and four blocks.
The Fighting Irish squeezed out its 25-22 win in the fourth when neither side led by more than two until the final point of the set was scored.
Connecticut set a season-high mark with 16.0 blocks. After not recording double digit block in a single game through their first 19 matches, the Huskies have reached double figures in four of the last five games.
Notre Dame travels to Jamaica, N.Y., to face St. John’s at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday. Live stats will be available at UND.com.
–ND–