SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell in a tough four-set battle to NC State on Sunday, Nov. 6 at Purcell Pavilion. After falling in set one, the Irish were able to claim the second set, but fell in sets three and four to the Wolfpack (20-25, 25-22, 18-25, 23-25).
The Irish had a strong defensive match at the net as they finished with 15 team blocks, led by Lucy Trump with nine and Kaylyn WInkler with seven.
Trump was just one block shy of a triple-double as she tallied 13 kills, 12 digs, and nine blocks for the Irish. Winkler also finished with eight kills and an impressive .500 hitting percentage. Paris Thompson chipped in nine kills for the Irish, followed by Avery Ross and Phyona Schrader who finished with seven kills a piece. Libero Hattie Monson also finished with 20 digs for Notre Dame.
After falling in set one, the Irish came out strong in set two with Thompson and Winkler each recording four kills in the second. The Irish also finished with 10 blocks in the set while Trump tallied five of her nine blocks in set two as well. After trailing 19-16, the Irish went on a 5-0 run to take the lead 21-19, but two NC State kills made it an even 21-21. Tied again at 22-22, kills from Thompson and Winkler would guide the Irish to the 25-22 set two win.
The Wolfpack was able to claim an early 5-1 lead over the Irish in set three and extended the lead to eight at the 19-11 mark. Despite kills from Winkler, Ross, and Trump, NC State would close out the set and take the 2-1 advantage heading into set four.
It was a close start in set four as the lead continued to go back and forth. After being tied for the ninth time in set four at 12-12, NC State was able to claim a 17-14 advantage. Kills from Paris Thompson tied it up at 20-20 and again at 21-21, but the Wolfpack would go on to take home the set four victory at 25-23.
UP NEXT
- The Irish will celebrate their five seniors during the Senior Day celebration directly after the match on Friday, Nov. 11 against Florida State.