Nov. 13, 1999
PHILADELPHIA — The Notre Dame volleyball team, behind a double-double by junior Christy Girton and a season-high team hitting percentage of .510, defeated Villanova 15-4, 15-6 and 15-6, today, at the Jake Nevin Field House in Philadelphia. The Irish, who have won seven consecutive matches, improve to 17-6 overall and 10-0 in BIG EAST play, while Villanova falls to 9-20 overall and 0-10 in BIG EAST play.
In game one, Notre Dame jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, before Villanova closed the gap to 9-4. The Irish scored the next six points to win game one, 15-6, as Girton had nine kills in 10 attempts in the game. Game two saw the Irish jump out to a 4-0 lead, but Villanova soon pulled even at 4-4 before the Irish went on an 11-2 run to claim game two, 15-6. In game three, Villanova took a 2-0 lead, but the Irish came back to win game three, 15-6, and the match 3-0.
The Irish hit a season-high .510 for the match, putting down 60 kills, while committing only eight errors in 102 swings. It was the third-highest hitting percentage ever in the history of the program. Notre Dame also outdug the Wildcats by a 46-24 margin.
Girton led all players with 16 kills and 11 digs, while hitting .565. Sophomore Marcie Bomhack pounded out 14 kills in 21 attempts, hitting .619 on the day. Junior setter Denise Boylan dished out 35 assists for the Irish and senior Mary Leffers added to her BIG EAST-leading block total with seven block assists today.
The Wildcats were led by Breen Eddinger and Ruth Ann Blankenhein with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Setter Stacey Moline had 37 assists for Villanova.
Notre Dame is next in action Sunday, Nov. 14, as the team travels to Georgetown to play the Hoyas in its final regular-season BIG EAST match of the year. Match time Sunday is 1 p.m.