SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame fell to third-ranked Ohio State in three sets (23-25, 19-25, 19-25) on Friday night inside Purcell Pavilion.
Caroline Meuth led the Irish with 12 kills while Charley Niego notched 10 kills and Zoe Nunez collected 29 assists in the three sets.
Niego earned a team-high 10 digs to earn her third consecutive double-double and 42nd of her career. Lauren Tarnoff led all players with four blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Buckeyes used a 5-0 run to take a 7-3 lead before back-to-back kills by Niego got the Irish within two at 13-11. Ohio State earned a 20-15 advantage, but the Irish fought back with a 6-1 run that included a kill by Niego and block by Tarnoff to even the frame at 21-all. Ohio State earned the next two points to go up 23-21, and eventually edged the Irish, 25-23, to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Meuth led Notre Dame with five kills and hit .400 in the opening set.
Second Set
The Irish opened the second stanza with a 5-3 lead before the visitors went on a 7-1 run to go up 10-6 and force a Notre Dame timeout. The Irish used a 4-1 stretch, capped by a block by Nunez and Miller, to get back within two at 18-16. However, the Buckeyes closed the frame on a 7-3 streak to take set two, 25-19.
Third Set
A kill by Meuth got the Irish within two at 10-8 before the Buckeyes earned the next five points to go up 15-8. Notre Dame used an 8-2 stretch to get back in the set at 23-19, but the visitors took the next two points to clinch the straight-set triumph, 25-19.
UP NEXT
- The Irish and #3 Ohio State meet again on Sunday (Sept. 19) at 2 p.m. ET in Columbus.
- That match is set to be nationally televised on ESPN2.
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