AUSTIN, Tex. — Charley Niego notched her 41st career double-double with 17 kills and 12 digs, but the Irish fell in four sets (16-25, 25-20, 17-25, 27-29) against top-ranked Texas on Sunday afternoon at Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Texas.
“This match the closest we’ve come to living our values,” said Irish head coach Mike Johnson. “I’m happy with the fight that we showed and the improvement day to day.That said, the game came down to a few little plays. We must get back in the gym and improve so that we are prepared to make that play.”
Aubrey Hamilton also reached double-digit kills with 11 while Zoe Nunez earned 36 assists in the four sets.
Defensively, Hattie Monson led the Irish with 13 digs while Caroline Meuth and Caroline Meuth each had a pair of blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Kills from Miller and Hamilton got the Irish within two at 6-4 before Texas earned seven of the next nine points to grab a 13-6 lead. The Longhorns kept control of the frame from there and took the first set, 25-16.
Second Set
The Longhorns jumped out to a 7-2 lead to open the second set and force an Irish timeout. The Irish went on a 4-0 run, including a kill and an ace by Niego, to get within two at 9-7. The Irish got within one on three occasions before a 4-0 run, including an ace from Monson, put Notre Dame up 21-19. The Irish closed the set with four straight points and a pair of aces by Meuth to take the second stanza 25-20.
Third Set
Texas earned a 6-3 advantage before an Irish 6-1 run that involved two kills by Niego and an ace by Miller put Notre Dame up 9-7. The Longhorns responded with an 8-3 stretch to retake a 15-12 advantage at the media timeout. After the break, Texas pulled away further and earned a 25-17 victory in set three to go up 2-1.
Fourth Set
The sides worked to a 6-6 tie before Texas earned the next four points to grab a 10-6 lead. The Irish answered with five of the next six points to even the frame at 11-11. The Irish were in one at 15-14 before the Longhorns earned four of the next five points to go up 19-15. Notre Dame responded back with a 5-1 capped by a kill from Hamilton to even the set again at 20-20. The Longhorns took a 24-22 lead, but the Irish wouldn’t go away quietly and earned the next three points to go up 25-24. The top-ranked Longhorns thwarted away a pair of Irish set points and eventually took the fourth frame, 29-27.
UP NEXT
- The Irish return to action next Friday and Sunday (Sept. 17 & 19) for a home-and-home series against #4 Ohio State.
- Notre Dame hosts the Buckeyes on Friday at 7 p.m. ET before heading to Columbus for a 2 p.m. ET matchup on Sunday.
- Friday’s matchup is set to be streamed via ACC Network Extra while Sunday’s contest is on ESPN2.
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