NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Irish racked up 21 total blocks, including a career-high 13 by Lauren Tarnoff, but ultimately fell to fourth-ranked Pitt in five sets (18-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-19, 10-15) on Friday night inside Purcell Pavilion.
The Irish hit the 20-block mark for the first time since October 28, 2018 in a four-set win against Boston College. Tarnoff finished just two blocks shy from being the first Irish to record 15+ blocks in a game since Mary Kay Waller earned 16 on October 11, 1987 in a four-set win against Minnesota.
Friday also marked the second time the Irish have taken a top-five opponent to the brink this season as they also fell to #3 Ohio State in five sets on the road on September 19.
Aubrey Hamilton and Caroline Meuth each led the Irish with 14 kills while Meuth added 12 digs to notch a double-double. Zoe Nunez collected 41 assists in the five sets of play.
Defensively, Lindsey Miller added eight blocks behind Tarnoff’s 13-block effort while Meuth finished just three blocks shy of a triple-double with seven and Hamilton and Nunez each added five. Hattie Monson recorded a team-high 17 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Panthers broke away from a tight opening to the match with a 5-1 run to earn a 15-10 lead. Hamilton notched back-to-back kills to make it 15-13 before Pitt earned the next three points to earn a five-point advantage.
The Irish wouldn’t get closer than five the rest of the frame as the visitors held on to take the opening set, 25-18.
Second Set
Aces by Monson and Meuth helped the Irish jump out to a 7-3 lead before Miller and Nunez notched back-to-back kills to give Notre Dame a 16-13 advantage.
Pitt worked to get back within two at 22-20, but the Irish closed the set with three consecutive blocks, including two by Nunez and Tarnoff, to take the frame 25-20 and even the match at 1-1.
Third Set
Three consecutive blocks by Meuth and Tarnoff put the Irish up 14-12 in the third frame, but the Panthers responded with a 5-0 run to go up 17-14.
Notre Dame answered the Pitt run with a 5-1 stretch, including kills by Hamilton, Meuth and Miller, to regain the lead at 19-18. However, the Panthers closed the stanza with a 7-2 streak to earn a 25-21 triumph and 2-1 lead.
Fourth Set
Three more blocks, including two by Hamilton and Miller, helped Notre Dame earn a 10-7 advantage to begin the fourth frame before Pitt went on a 5-0 run to go up 12-10.
From there, the Irish block took over once again as Notre Dame racked up six in a 10-4 stretch to take a 20-16 lead. Consecutive kills by Miller and Niego brought the Irish to set point and a Pitt service error sealed a 25-19 Irish victory and forced a decisive fifth set.
Fifth Set
The Panthers earned six of the first seven points of the final set and maintained at least a four-point advantage from there en route to a 15-10 victory to clinch a 3-2 win.
UP NEXT
- The Irish close out the weekend with a home match against Virginia on Sunday (Oct. 24) at 1 p.m. ET.
- That match will be streamed live via ACC Network Extra.
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