Sept. 6, 2000
Sept. 3, 2000
The Notre Dame volleyball team (3-0) completed its sweep through the 2000 Shamrock Invitational with a three-game victory (15-7, 15-8, 15-6) over Clemson (0-3) at the Joyce Center. Senior setter Denise Boylan was named tournament MVP while classmate Christi Girton and junior Kristy Kreher earned all-tournament team honors as well.
Boylan tallied 49 assists in the Clemson match and helped set the Irish offense to a .408 hitting percentage. She also contributed four kills, seven digs, four blocks and two aces in the match.
Kreher followed up her 23-kill performance on Saturday against BYU with a 16-kill, eight-dig effort Sunday. Hitting .429 for the match (28 attack attempts with just four errors), she helped the Irish get off to a strong start with four kills in game one.
Kreher was not the only hot Irish hitter on the court Sunday. Junior Marcie Bomhack and Girton tallied double-digit kills with 13 and 15, respectively. Junior Malinda Goralski completed an impressive weekend at middle blocker for the Irish with seven kills and two blocks.
The Irish also were able to play most of their roster, with freshmen Katie Neff and Kim Fletcher playing a majority of the final game. Fletcher had four digs, three blocks and two kills while classmate Kristen Kinder tallied six assists while providing Boylan a breather in game two.
Senior Adrienne Shimmel also provided an offensive boost in game three with three kills and three digs.
Clemson was led by Jodi Steffes with 17 kills and 10 digs.
The Tigers fall to 0-3 on the season while the Irish improve to 3-0 heading into the adidas Invitational Sept. 8-10 when top-25 ranked teams UCLA, Nebraska and Michigan State will visit the Joyce Center for a round-robin tournament. #20 Michigan State will meet #1 UCLA at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 8. The Irish will take on #6 Nebraska at 4:00 p.m. on Friday before the Notre Dame – Nebraska football pep rally.
The first 4,000 people seated at the Notre Dame versus Nebraska volleyball match will be guaranteed seats for the football pep rally. Notre Dame fans are also encouraged to ‘Get the Nebraska red out’ by wearing green to all university athletic functions over the weekend to show support for Irish athletics.
2000 Shamrock Invitational All-Tournament Team:
Denise Boylan, Senior, S, Notre Dame - MVPChristi Girton, Senior, OH, Notre DameKristy Kreher, Junior, OPP, Notre DameMelissa Layton, Sophomore, OH, BYUNina Puikkonen, Junior, MB, BYUJoanne Saunders, Junior, OH, FairfieldSunny Tonga, Sophomore, OPP, BYU