WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Notre Dame volleyball team improved to 5-0 in the ACC with a four-set (29-27, 20-25, 25-20, 25-22) road win against Wake Forest Friday night in Winston-Salem. With the victory, the Irish improve to 12-3 overall and have won five consecutive matches.
Sydney Bent, Charley Niego and Caroline Meuth each led the Irish attack with 13 kills apiece. Zoe Nunez racked up 45 assists in the four sets of play.
Madison Cruzado led the Irish with 16 digs, while Kristin Baer earned five total blocks to bring her season total to a team-high 74.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The opening set was a back-and-forth affair that featured 17 ties and six lead changes. Wake Forest held a 15-14 advantage before a 5-1 Irish streak, which included a kill and an ace by Wenzel, put Notre Dame up 19-16. The Demon Deacons used a 3-1 spurt to even the frame at 23-all. The Irish earned a 1-0 lead with a Wake service error and a set-clinching kill by Meuth to take the first set, 29-27.
Second Set
Wake Forest led from start-to-finish en route to a 25-20 set victory that evened the match.
Third Set
Two kills by Meuth helped the Irish jump out to a 5-1 lead to open the third frame. Wake Forest cut the Irish advantage to 7-6 before the visitors used a 6-0 run to go up 13-6. Notre Dame stayed in control from there to pick up a 25-20 set victory and take a 2-1 lead.
Fourth Set
After falling behind 10-6 in the fourth stanza, the Irish tied the frame with a 4-0 streak. The sides remained close, working to a 21-all tie, before Notre Dame closed the match by earning four of the last five points. A kill by Bent gave Notre Dame the match-point opportunity before Paige McKnight sealed the win with an ace.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame stays on the road to take on Duke this Sunday (Oct. 13) at 3 p.m. Sunday’s matchup in Durham is set to be televised on the ACC Network.
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—ND—