NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Charley Niego earned her seventh consecutive double-double with a team-high 14 kills and 16 digs, but Notre Dame fell to Miami in straight sets (21-25, 15-25, 22-25) on Sunday afternoon inside Purcell Pavilion.
“Bottom line. We aren’t playing the game well. It’s on me to fix it. We will not roll over,” said Irish head coach Mike Johnson.
Hattie Monson added 10 digs for the Irish defensively while Lauren Wenzel and Lindsey Miller each added three blocks. Miller also led the Irish with a pair of service aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Hurricanes used a 5-0 run to grab an early 6-3 lead before a pair of kills each by Niego and Caroline Meuth helped the Irish go back on top, 12-10. After the teams worked to a 14-14 tie, two more kills by Niego sparked a 4-1 Notre Dame run to put the hosts up 18-15 and forced a Miami timeout.
Miami came out of the timeout and earned 10 of the next 13 points to take the first set, 25-21.
Second Set
An ace by Miller gave the Irish a 5-4 lead, but the Hurricanes earned the next five points to go up 9-5. A kill by Phyona Schrader got Notre Dame back within one at 11-10 before Miami answered with a 6-1 run to go up 17-11. The Hurricanes stayed in control from there en route to a 25-15 decision in the second stanza.
Third Set
Miami earned a 6-2 lead to start the third and force an early Irish timeout. The Irish got within one on three occasions, including 13-12, before the Hurricanes went on a 4-1 stretch to regain a four-point advantage at 17-13.
Notre Dame used a 4-1 run of their own, which included a block by Meuth and ace by Monson, to finally tie the frame at 20-all. However, Miami earned five of the next seven points to take the third set, 25-22.
UP NEXT
- The Irish continue ACC play on the road next weekend against Georgia Tech and Clemson.
- Notre Dame first takes on the Yellow Jackets next Friday (Oct. 1) at 7 p.m. ET in Atlanta before meeting the Tigers on Sunday (Oct. 3) at 1 p.m. ET
- Both matches will be streamed via ACC Network Extra.
—ND—