Sept. 10, 2000
The Notre Dame volleyball team (3-3) suffered a five-game loss to 16th-ranked Michigan State in five games (15-12, 7-15, 12-15, 15-12, 10-15) at the Joyce Center, Sunday afternoon. The loss was Notre Dame’s third in the adidas Invitational.
Notre Dame was led by junior Kristy Kreher, who tallied 21 kills versus the Spartans and earned a spot on the adidas Invitational all-tournament team. Senior Christi Girton (Muncie, Ind.) and junior Marcie Bomhack both contributed double-doubles in the loss. Girton had her best game of the tournament, totaling 19 kills, 16 digs and five blocks. Bomhack added 13 kills and 15 digs.
The Irish and the Spartans battled back-and-forth throughout the match. MSU led game one 9-5, until the Irish roared back out-score the Spartans 10-3 to take the first game. Kreher keyed the surge with a kill and a block while senior Denise Boylan helped out with two aces.
Michigan State came out hot in the second game behind the hitting of Sarah Gustin and all-tourney selection Jessica Sanborn. The Spartans built a 10-4 lead that the Irish were unable to overcome.
Gustin and Sanborn continued their hot hitting in the third game, but Bomhack and Girton battled to keep the Irish in the match. The two Irish outside hitters combined for two blocks and three kills to tie game three at 10-10. The Spartans were able to gain a 2-1 advantage in the match with an ace by Erin Hartley and kills by Gustin and Angela Morely.
Needing a fourth-game victory to stay alive, the Irish outscored MSU 7-1 and the Spartans never completely recovered. Junior Malinda Goralski, who had a career-high 15 kills in the match, sparked Notre Dame in the fourth game with two kills and a block.
In the fifth game, the Spartans jumped out to a 9-3 lead that put the match out of reach. Goralski tried to keep Notre Dame in contention with three kills in the final game, but MSU’s Sanborn had three kills and a block to seal the victory.
The Irish and Spartans match up marked the end of the 2000 adidas Invitational. Nebraska setter Greichaly Cepero was named the tournament MVP after leading Nebraska to a 3-0 record in the tournament with wins over UCLA, Michigan State and Notre Dame. Number-three UCLA defeated the Irish and the Spartans before dropping the championship game Sunday to Nebraska. Michigan State ended the tourney with losses to UCLA and Nebraska and Sunday’s win over the Irish.
Notre Dame will return to action Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 7:00 p.m., when the Irish travel to Valparaiso for their first road game of the year.
2000 adidas Invitational All-Tournament Team:
MVP: Greichaly Cepero, S, So., Nebraska
Kristy Kreher, OPP, Jr., Notre DameAngie Oxley, RS, Sr, NebraskaLaura Pilakowski, OH/MB, So., NebraskaKristee Porter, OH, Jr., UCLAElisabeth Bachman, MB, Sr., UCLAJessica Sanborn, MB, Sr., Michigan State