SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame picked up a 3-2 victory (22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13) over Milwaukee in its final game of the Irish Invitational on Sunday afternoon in Purcell Pavilion. The Irish advance to 1-2 on the season after Head Coach Salima Rockwell’s first win with the Notre Dame volleyball program.
Sophomore setter Phyona Schrader was able to record a triple-double in today’s win, which is the first triple-double since Rebbeca Nunge did it against Lousiville on Nov. 9, 2016. Schrader finished today with 11 kills, 13 digs, and 33 assists.
Freshman Lucy Trump led the way for the Irish, setting an impressive career high 23 kills and 17 digs in only her third match at Notre Dame. She was followed by fellow freshman Avery Ross who tallied 18 kills and ten digs for the Irish. Junior Libero Hattie Monson also posted an impressive 27 digs for the Irish, while junior Charity McDowell posted a career-high six blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set One
The Milwaukee Panthers were able to take the early 4-1 lead, but struggled to pull away from the Irish. With two kills from Kaylyn Winkler and two from Lucy Trump, the Irish were able to take the 9-8 lead. Neither team was able to take the lead and pull away. The Irish and Panthers continued to tie it up at 15-15, 18-18, and 21-21, and while a Harmony Sample kill gave the Irish a 22-21 advantage, the Panthers went on to score four straight points to take the set win.
Set Two
The Irish and Panthers were back and forth to start set two, but a kill from Trump allowed the Irish to tie it up at 7-7. The Panthers responded with a 7-0 run to take the lead 14-7. Notre Dame would then go on an 8-0 run of their own to regain the lead at 16-15. Milwaukee tied it up yet again at 16-16, but were never able to take the lead again in set two. With four kills from Trump in the nine points, the Irish were able to take the set two victory 25-20.
Set Three
Starting off with an even 5-5 set, kills from Ross and Schrader allowed Notre Dame to claim an early 10-7 advantage. A Panther kill gave Milwaukee their first lead of the set at 11-10, but the lead didn’t stay with either team for long. As the Panthers and Irish continued to swamp points, a kill from Schrader made it a tied game at 20-20. Tied again at 23-23, kills from Trump and Kaylyn Winkler gave the Irish the 2-1 advantage heading into set four.
Set Four
While the Irish had a 9-5 lead in the beginning of the fourth, the Panthers went on a 9-2 run to take the 14-11 advantage. Milwaukee was never able to pull and both teams would continue to swap points. While the Irish were able to bring it within one at 23-22, the Panthers would win set four 25-22 and take it into five sets.
Set Five
Freshman Maisie Alexander would start off set five with seven straight serves for the Irish, which included two aces and two kills from Trump. With Notre Dame taking the early 7-0 lead, the Panthers called a timeout and proceeded to respond with a 7-2 run to cut the Irish lead to two. Milwaukee tried to make its way back into the set but after a kill from Schrader and four Milwaukee hitting errors, the Irish extended their lead to 13-8. The Panthers consistent offensive efforts brought it back within one at 14-13, but Ross was able to put one last kill away for the Irish to claim the first win of the season.
WHAT’S NEXT
- The Irish hit the road for the month of September as they travel to Long Beach, California on Sept. 2-3 to face Boise State and Long Beach State.
- On Sept. 9-10, Notre Dame travels to Norfolk, Virginia to play East Carolina, Old Dominion, and Navy.
- In the last tournament before ACC play, the Irish will travel to Indianapolis to face Central Michigan and Ohio University.