Sept. 30, 2005
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior libero and co-captain Meg Henican (New Orleans, La./Isidore Newman H.S.) had 26 digs in just three games to lead the 10th-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s volleyball team (10-1, 2-0 BIG EAST) to a 30-17, 30-23, 30-20 victory against Syracuse (10-6, 2-1) Friday evening in Manley Field House. The Irish never trailed throughout the match and held the Orange to just .043 hitting, a season-low for a Notre Dame opponent.
After a pair of matches in which Notre Dame’s offense was spectacular, it was the defense that dominated on Friday. The Irish – who came into the week ranked seventh nationally in both categories – used 68 digs (22.67 per game) and 10 blocks (3.33 per game) to keep Syracuse to just 35 kills (11.67) and 29 errors. The Orange came into the match ranked second in the BIG EAST in kills per game (16.02) and fourth in hitting percentage (.245).
Henican had six digs in the first game, a dozen in the second, and eight in the final frame to match the second-highest total ever by an Irish player in a three-game affair. The Notre Dame record is 28, which was done by Jessica Kinder against Valparaiso on Sept. 9, 2003. Friday marked the third time Henican has posted 26 digs in a 3-0 match, after having done so against both Sacramento State (Sept. 11) and Villanova (Oct. 31) last season. It was a season high in any-length match for Henican, who has had 20 digs or more on 21 occasions during her career (four times in 2005). In eight games this season as the Irish libero, she has 60 digs, an average of 7.50 per game. Additionally, Henican – who fielded 37 serves perfectly on Friday – has made just a single reception error in 67 times receiving serve. She carried the majority of the load (64% of the 58 chances) in a serve-receiving effort that held Syracuse – which came in ranking second in the BIG EAST in the category (1.94 per game) – without an ace. It was the first time since last year’s league-title match against Pittsburgh that Notre Dame did not allow a service ace.
Senior All-American MB Lauren Brewster (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood H.S.) – the BIG EAST blocking champ in each of the last three seasons – dominated at the net by taking part in seven of Notre Dame’s 10 blocks, including two of the solo variety. Senior OH Lauren Kelbley (Bascom, Ohio/Hopewell-Loudon H.S.) also earned three blocks (one solo), while sophomores OH Adrianna Stasiuk (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South H.S.) and S Ashley Tarutis (Long Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos H.S.), and senior MB Carolyn Cooper (Houston, Texas/Lutheran South Academy) – the current league leader in blocking – all were in on two.
Tarutis turned in her ninth double-double in 11 matches this season – and the 21st of her career – by posting 11 digs. She also had 35 assists and helped Notre Dame to a .273 hitting mark. Heading into last Sunday’s match, the Irish season high for team hitting was .271 in the opener vs. Michigan. Since then, Tarutis’ offense has hit better than that three times in as many matches. Perhaps more impressively, the Irish have now hit over .230 in nine consecutive games, including over .300 in six of those.
Tarutis’ top targets on Friday were freshman OH Mallorie Croal (Villa Park, Calif./Mater Dei H.S.) and Kelbley. The rookie led all players with 17 kills, converting on more than half of her 30 attempts for a .400 hitting mark. Kelbley – who missed the Irish record for kills in a three-game match by just one on Tuesday – finished with 15 kills on .324 hitting. She has had double-digit kills in 10 of 11 matches this season, as well as 72 in her career, which put her in a tie with Emily Loomis for third on the all-time Irish list.
Stasiuk, who has seen much time at libero this season, reached double figures in kills for the first time in 2005, posting 11 kills as an outside hitter.
Notre Dame eliminated Syracuse from the ranks of the unbeaten in BIG EAST Conference action. The Irish, at 2-0, are now in a four-way tie atop the league standings, along with #5-ranked Louisville, Villanova, and Cincinnati. The Cardinals and Wildcats will play on Saturday afternoon in Villanova, Pa.
The Orange were led by senior MB/RS Kelly Duan, who had 14 kills. Sophomore libero Joscie Kaup had 18 digs, while sophomore MB Jen Malcom had five blocks.
The score was tied just twice in the match, at 2-2 and 3-3 in the opening game.
Notre Dame has won 13 in a row against Syracuse, including five consecutive 3-0 decisions.
Next up for the Irish is their first trip to Milwaukee since 1986. Notre Dame will take on new BIG EAST member Marquette on Sunday at 2 p.m. (CDT) in the Al McGuire Center.
#10 Notre Dame (10-1, 2-0) 30-30-30Syracuse (10-6, 2-1) 17-23-20
Kills: ND 51 (Croal 17), SU 35 (Duan 14)Attack Percentage: ND .273 (Croal .400), SU .043 (Allen .400)Assists: ND 48 (Tarutis 35), SU 31 (Dommestrup 30)Service Aces-Errors: ND 3-8 (Brewster 2), SU 0-4Digs: ND 68 (Henican 26), SU 53 (Kaup 18)Blocks: ND 10 (Brewster 7), SU 9 (Malcom 5)Points: ND 64 (Croal 18), SU 44 (Duan 16)Attendance: 219