NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Charley Niego notched her six consecutive double-double with a team-high 17 kills and 23 digs, but Notre Dame fell to Florida State in four sets (21-25, 26-24, 16-25, 22-22) on Friday night inside Purcell Pavilion.
Niego was just three kills shy of what would have been her second 20K-20D performance and just the third in program history over the past 11 years.
Lindsey Miller racked up a career-best 10 blocks for the Irish while Aubrey Hamilton also collected a career-high six blocks. Hattie Monson earned 19 digs while Zoe Nunez earned 17 digs with 40 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
Three straight kills by Niego broke a 6-6 tie before the Seminoles went on a 9-2 run to go up 15-11 entering the media timeout. Later down 20-14, the Irish pulled within two via a 6-2 scoring spree, as Hamilton, Caroline Meuth, Lauren Wenzel, Niego and Miller all contributed and recorded kills.
However, Florida State claimed three of the next four points to capture the first set 25-21. Niego led the Irish with five kills in the set, as well as 14 digs, followed by three kills from both Hamilton and Meuth.
Second Set
The Irish used a 4-0 run, capped with an ace by Monson, to earn a 7-4 lead and force a Seminoles timeout. The Irish built a lead as large as six in the second set, owning a 18-12 advantage before the Seminoles rallied to cut the deficit to one at 22-21.
Then none other than Niego answered the call, recording the next two kills for the Irish which led to a 24-23 Notre Dame lead. The Irish then delivered in crunch time, taking set two 26-24.
Niego once again led with five kills, followed right behind by Miller with four and Meuth with three.
Third Set
Florida State used 4-0 and 5-0 runs to earn a 16-7 advantage in the third frame and held on to take the set, 25-16, and go up 2-1 in the match.
Fourth Set
The fourth set was a back-and-forth affair as neither team boasted more than a two-point through the first 20 points. With the Irish then trailing by two, Niego notched back-to-back kills, followed by an ace by Nunez, thus moving the momentum to Notre Dame’s side and resulting in a five-point swing and 14-11 lead.
The Seminoles earned the next three points to make it 14-all, and after the teams worked to an 18-18 tie, collected five of the next six points to go up 24-19. The Irish wouldn’t go away quietly as they used a 3-0 run to make it 24-22, but the Seminoles prevailed 25-22 to close out the match.
UP NEXT
- The Irish close the weekend with a home matchup against Miami this Sunday, September 26 at 1 p.m.
- That contest will be televised live on ACC network and admission to all 2021 Notre Dame volleyball home matches is free.
—ND—