GAME NOTES
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame volleyball team opens up Atlantic Coast Conference play this weekend inside Purcell Pavilion, hosting Syracuse Friday at 6:30 p.m. before a matchup against Boston College at 1:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Both matches will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
The Irish are coming off two hard-fought games against Michigan that completed their non-conference slate. Notre Dame posted wins over Santa Clara, Colorado State and East Texas A&M in non-conference competition.
Sophomore Morgan Gaerte continues to shine amongst the best in the nation offensively. The 2025 Preseason All-ACC selection is currently second in the ACC in kills per set (4.67) and points per set (5.17). She is also 16th nationally in both those categories and leads the team with six solo blocks.
The middle blocker duo of Anna Bjork and Grace Langer have anchored the front line for Notre Dame. Bjork leads the team with 32 total blocks while Langer is one behind at 31. The Irish in total have four players with at least 20 blocks (Chichi Nnaji – 24, Gaerte – 20). Notre Dame is 8th in the conference in blocks per set with 2.50.
History is on the Irish side for the weekend. Notre Dame is 30-10 all-time against Syracuse and 23-5 historically versus Boston College. Notre Dame is on a seven-game home win streak against the Orange and have won 10 of the last 11 meetings against the Eagles.
Notre Dame Volleyball will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a special night Friday against Syracuse. Fans can sign up pregame to win a pair of limited edition SOMOSND coffee mugs. Sunday’s match against Boston College will be the first of four posters in the season’s team poster series giveaway. Posters can be found near the main entrance, and post game autographs will be available after the game.
HISTORY VS. SYRACUSE
- This is the 41st meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Syracuse. The Irish lead the series 30-10
- Notre Dame has won six of the last seven matchups and have a seven-game home winning streak against Syracuse
- The Irish are 10-7 against the Orange since joining the ACC, but were 16-1 when both programs were in the Big East together
HISTORY VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
- This is the 29th meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Boston College. The Irish lead the series 23-5
- Notre Dame has won 10 of the last 11 meetings against the Eagles and have a four-game winning streak at home
- Since joining the ACC, the Irish are 11-4 against Boston College. They were 9-1 against the Eagles when both programs were in the Big East together
THE GAERTE PARTY
- The All-ACC Preseason Selection broke the school record for kills in a match against Illinois with 34. Kathy Cunningham’s record of 33 kills had stood for over 37 years. Those 34 kills are tied for the most in a single match so far this season in the country with Racquel Frazier of Hampton.
- She is the just the third player in Irish history to have three consecutive games of 20 or more kills. She has 140 kills this season, just 45 off her total all of last season.
- Gaerte is second in the conference and is 16th nationally with 4.67 kills per set. In points per set, she is also second in the ACC and 16th in the country with 5.17
- The sophomore has had double-digit kills in every single match so far this season
FRESH FACES
- The Irish welcome five freshmen to the team, bringing the Irish to a roster size of 20.
- The freshman class consists of Maya Baker (S), Maya Evens (DS/L), Mae Kordas (OH/O), Chichi Nnaji (OH), Sophia Thornburg (OH).
- Baker, who was a two-time Max Preps All-American, leads the team with 148 assists and is tied for second on the team with 47 digs.
- The Irish pair a duo of former high school teammates in the incoming freshman class. Maya Evens and Mae Kordas both played together at Cathedral Catholic High School in Carlsbad, California. The duo was part of two Open State Championships (2022, 2024).
- Evens has played in every set for the Irish at libero and leads the team with 110 digs early in the season. She also has 31 assists.
- Chichi Nnaji and Sophia Thornburg were high school teammates in Dallas, Texas at the Ursuline Academy of Dallas. Thornburg was named to the Prep Volleyball Top 100 National List for the Class of 2025 while Nnaji spent time working with the USAV National Team Development Program.
- Nnaji has made an early impact in a short time. She is third on the team with 39 kills and has 24 total blocks for 51.5 points.
- The Irish added one player from the portal, outside hitter Sydney Helmers from Texas. She was a member of the 2023 National Champion team as a freshman for the Longhorns. The junior has 53 kills, 27 digs and is third on the team with seven service aces this season.