No. 5 Irish Rally To Top No. 10 Panthers

NOTRE DAME, Ind.  — The fifth-ranked Notre Dame volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to down No. 10 Pittsburgh in five sets (22-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-20, 17-15) on Friday night inside Purcell Pavilion.

With the win, the Irish improve to 4-0 (4-0 ACC). Friday’s comeback was the first time the Irish rallied from an 0-2 deficit since a five-set victory at Miami on October 22, 2017.

Aubrey Hamilton and Caroline Meuth each led the Irish with 17 kills while Zoe Nunez collected 47 assists.

Defensively, Hattie Monson earned a game-high 23 digs and Meuth added 17 digs to earn a double-double. Nancy Kane and Kiara Schmidt each added 12 digs.

As a team, the Irish racked up 16 blocks in the five sets of play with Meuth and Lindsey Miller each earning six.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set
The two sides opened play in a 5-5 tie before back-to-back aces by Meuth gave the Irish an 8-5 lead. Another ace by Meuth extended Notre Dame’s advantage to 16-12 and forced Pitt to take a timeout. After the break, the Panthers responded with a 6-2 stretch to even the set at 18-all. The sides continued to trade points en route to a 22-22 tie before Pitt finished the frame with three straight points to take the set, 25-22.

Second Set
The Panthers carried momentum into the second set to go up 7-3 and force a Notre Dame timeout. The visitors stayed in control and forced the Irish to take their second timeout after earning a 14-7 lead. The Irish managed to get within five at 22-17, but Pitt held on to take the second set, 25-17.

Third Set
The Irish opened the third stanza with a 5-4 lead before the Panthers earned four straight points to go up 8-5. A kill by Sydney Bent and block by Lindsey Miller helped the Irish even the frame at 9-9. Notre Dame used a 4-0 run, which included a kill and a pair of blocks by Hannah Thompson, to take a 14-11 advantage. Pitt got within one at 15-14 before the Irish earned four of the next five points to go up 19-15. The Irish stayed in front the rest of the way, with a kill by Bent clinching a 25-21 set win. As a team, the Irish hit .361 in the frame with Bent notching a team-high four kills.

Fourth Set
A kill and two blocks by Sammi Lockwood spearheaded a 5-2 Irish spurt that gave the hosts an 8-6 lead in the fourth frame. Notre Dame extended its lead to 14-10 with a 4-1 stretch that included a pair of kills by Meuth and forced a Panthers timeout. The Irish earned the next three points after the break, making it a 7-1 run, to extend their lead to 17-10. The Panthers responded with a 6-1 streak to get within two at 18-16. Notre Dame regained control by earning four of the next five points to earn a 22-17 lead. A kill and block by Meuth clinched a 25-20 win for the Irish to force a decisive fifth set.

Fifth Set
Notre Dame took a 5-4 lead before Pitt converted four straight points to go up 8-5. After the Panthers earned an 11-8 lead, a kill by Miller and a block by Meuth got the Irish within one as Pitt took a timeout. Meuth and Lockwood teamed up for another block after the break to make it 11-all. The Panthers regained the lead at 12-11 before a Pitt service error and attack error put the Irish up 13-12. Pitt answered to go up 15-14 before three straight Panthers attack errors sealed the 17-15 set win and comeback victory for Notre Dame. 

UP NEXT
The No. 5 and No. 10 Panthers will meet again inside Purcell on Sunday, October 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Sunday’s match will be shown on ACC Network. 

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—ND—