NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Notre Dame volleyball team picked up a four-set victory (25-17, 24-26, 25-18, 26-24) over Syracuse on Sunday afternoon inside Purcell Pavilion.
With the win, the Irish improve to 18-7 overall and 11-4 in ACC play.
Caroline Meuth led the Irish with 21 kills while Charley Niego racked up 20 kills. Zoe Nunez earned 46 assists in the four sets of play.
Madison Cruzado recorded a team-high 18 digs. Nunez added 13 digs and Niego notched 11 digs for her 13th double-double of the season. Kristin Baer paced Notre Dame with six total blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
A 5-2 stretch, which included three kills by Niego, helped Notre Dame earn a 10-7 lead to open play. Syracuse answered with three straight points to even the frame at 10-all. The Irish responded with nine of the next 10 points, including a pair of aces by Niego, to lead 19-11. The Orange worked to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 20-16 and force an Irish timeout. After the break, Notre Dame closed the set on a 5-1 run to take the frame, 25-17.
Second Set
The second stanza opened in an 8-8 tie before the Irish earned four straight points to go up 12-8. Syracuse responded with a 6-0 run to lead 14-12. Another 4-1 Orange run put the visitors up 18-14 before three straight Irish points made it 18-17. The Orange earned the next two points to take a 20-17 lead and force an Irish timeout. After the break, three kills by Meuth helped the Irish even the set at 21-21. The teams worked to a 24-24 tie before Syracuse earned a 26-24 set win to even the match.
Third Set
A 3-0 run helped the Irish earn a 6-2 advantage to begin set three. The Irish extended their advantage to 14-6 with a 8-2 stretch that included an ace by Nunez and two kills by Bent. Syracuse used an 8-3 streak to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 20-17 before the Irish earned four straight points to go up 24-17. A kill by Meuth clinched the 25-18 set win and a 2-1 lead for the Irish.
Fourth Set
Four straight kills by Niego helped Notre Dame earn a 7-4 lead to open the fourth frame. The Irish extended their advantage to 13-6 with a 6-1 streak that involved three Syracuse attack errors. Two more kills by Niego pushed the Irish lead to 18-10 before Syracuse went on a 9-2 run to make the score 20-19. Notre Dame answered by earning four of the next five points to go up 24-20. The Orange rattled off four straight points to finally even the frame at 24-all. The Irish clinched the 26-24 set win, and four-set victory, with a block by Baer and Niego’s 20th kill of the contest.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back on the road next weekend to take on Louisville and Georgia Tech. Notre Dame meets the Cardinals next Friday, November 22nd at 7 p.m. before taking on the Yellow Jackets on Sunday, November 24th at 1 p.m. Both matches are set to be streamed live via ACC Network Extra.
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—ND—