Nov. 26, 1999
STOCKTON, Calif. – Led by Christi Girton?s 10 kills and Mary Leffers? eight blocks, the Notre Dame volleyball team defeated Washington State, 15-10, 15-4, 15-6, Friday evening in the first match of the Community Bankers Classic at the University of the Pacific. The Irish picked up their first win ever over the Cougars and moved to 20-7 overall, while Washington State fell to 13-14.
Girton (Muncie, Ind.) was helped offensively by sophomore Kristy Kreher?s (Birmingham, Mich.) and Marcie Bomhack?s (Waukesha, Wis.) nine kills, while Leffers (Tampa, Fla.) also contributed 10 digs on defense. Junior setter Denise Boylan (Lisle, Ill.) recorded 33 assists, four aces and four blocks as the Irish hit .356 as a team to Washington State?s .055 hitting percentage.
After falling behind early in game one 2-0, the Irish scored six straight points on the serve of sophomore outside hitter to erase the early Cougar lead and make the score 6-2. Washington State then scored two points on a Girton hitting error and a kill off an overpass, but the Irish responded with two of its own to move their lead back to four at 8-4. The game continued to be tight until Notre Dame went on a four-point run to make the score 13-7. Two straight Washington State aces closed the gap to 13-9, but a Boylan and Leffers blocked moved the Irish to game point at 14-9. A kill off the block got the Cougars to double digits, but Notre Dame converted on its second game point, winning 15-10.
Game two began much the same as the first with Notre Dame taking an early 6-2 lead. The Irish continued to build on that lead with good serving and defense, advancing the score to 12-3 on a Washington State hitting error. The Cougars would score what would turn out to be their last point of the game on a kill by Adrian Hankoff at 12-4, but the Irish momentum proved to be to strong, as consecutive kills by Notre Dame sophomore middle blocker Malinda Goralski (Missouri City, Texas) ended the game at 15-4.
In game three, the Irish broke a 5-5 tie by reeling off five straight points, including three on Cougar unforced errors. Washington State would score its final point at 10-6 as the Irish capitalized on three Bomhack kills, an ace and a Washington State hitting error to win the game and the match with a 15-6 score in game three.
Hankoff?s 10 kills and 11 digs led Washington State, while LaToya Harris contributed four aces from the service line.
The Irish will face the winner of the University of Pacific-Sacramento State match on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. in the championship match of the 21st annual Community Bankers Classic.