Sept. 10, 2010
DENVER – Maybe it was being back in her home state. Maybe it was the change in altitude. Maybe it was the team meal hosted by her family the night before. Whatever it was, it worked for senior Kellie Sciacca against Gonzaga on Friday. The Monument, Colo., native dropped 14 kills on the Bulldogs in a 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-21) sweep on the opening day of Denver’s Pioneer Classic at Hamilton Gymnasium.
Sciacca needed 21 swings to accumulate her total and finished with a .619 hitting clip, the second-best three-set average of her career. In fact, she went errorless on her first 20 attempts of the match before hitting into a successful Gonzaga (2-6) block late in the third set.
The non-conference road volleyball victory for Notre Dame (5-2) came on a respectable overall effort as seven players recorded at least one kill. As a team, Notre Dame hit .341 including a .565 mark in the opening frame.
Freshman Andrea McHugh had nine kills and five digs with junior Kristen Dealy clocking out with seven kills. Dealy also took home match-high honors with three aces and 11 digs. Notre Dame finished with seven aces to bring its latest three-match total to 23.
Sciacca was also flanked by freshman middle blocker Andie Olsen, who made the most of her first career start with three kills and a pair of blocks. Sophomore Hilary Eppink carried a load with eight kills on 15 errorless swings (.533) and a match-high four stuffs.
Both Irish setters – freshmen Sammie Brown and Maggie Brindock – distributed the rock efficiently with 18 and 14 assists, respectively. Their output spurred Notre Dame to finish off Gonzaga in 1:15, the fourth-quickest Irish match in the 25-point era.
Gonzaga was led by Schylur Edelman’s 10 kills.
Next on the slate for Notre Dame is a match with Jacksonville State at 2:00 p.m. (MT) on Saturday.
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