Tallahassee, Fla. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish wrapped up their 2023 regular season as they faced the No. 23 Florida State Seminoles in their final ACC match of the year. The Irish fell in three (21-25, 19-25, 23-25) to FSU on Saturday, Nov. 25 as they were led by Sydney Palazzolo with 10 kills, followed by Lucy Trump and Phyona Schrader with eight kills a piece. Schrader dished out 16 assists and Nicole Drewnick tallied 14 assists for the Irish. Hattie Monson recorded a team-best 25 digs and Charity McDowell led the Irish with five blocks.
Set One
The Irish may have trailed the Seminoles 12-6 to start the first, but a 7-1 run from Notre Dame was sparked by a Palazzolo kill and capped off with a kill from Schrader to tie it up at 13-all. A kill from Lucy Trump gave the Irish their first lead of the set at 15-14 before the Seminoles went on a run of their own. FSU outscored the Irish 6-1 to claim a 20-16 advantage and force an Irish timeout. The Irish closed the gap to two at 23-21, but the Seminoles took home set one 25-21.
Set Two
It was a 10-7 game as the Irish were down three to start set two. Notre Dame brought it within one after a Monson ace at 13-12, but the Seminoles extended their lead yet again to make it a five point set at 18-13. The Irish worked to chip away and close the gap, but FSU won set two 25-19 with the 2-0 advantage going into set three.
Set Three
The Irish came out swinging in the third as they led 7-2 with five kills between Palazzolo and Trump as they forced an early FSU timeout. The Seminoles responded with a run of their own as it was tied up at 11-all before they took the lead 18-15 and forced an Irish timeout. Trailing by four at 23-19, the Irish were able to bring it within one at 24-23 after a block from McDowell and Palazzolo, but the Seminoles sent home one last kill to take home the win and become ACC Co-Champions.