Nov. 3, 2000
The University of Notre Dame volleyball team (19-5, 9-0 in the BIG EAST) cruised past Boston College (10-16) Friday evening, with a three game sweep (15-6, 15-2, 15-7) in the first of three weekend matches at the Joyce Center. The Irish will face North Carolina, Saturday, Nov. 4, at 7:00 p.m., and Providence, on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 2:00 p.m., to complete a full weekend of volleyball action.
The Irish controlled the match the entire way, utilizing their whole roster and posting an impressive .391 team-hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Christi Girton (Muncie, Ind.) led Notre Dame with 11 kills on 20 attempts (.450 hitting), playing just over a game and a half.
Much of the credit for the Irish offensive performance goes to the combination of setters Denise Boylan (Lisle, Ill.) and Kristen Kinder (Fresno, Calif.). Each played a game and a half in the match and helped Notre Dame post an impressive .600 hitting percentage (16 kills, one error on 25 attempts) in game two. Boylan finished with 19 assists, five digs, two kills and an ace. Kristen Kinder added 16 assists, four digs and a kill.
Notre Dame gained control of the match at the end of the first game. With the Irish holding an 8-5 lead, Girton and junior Malinda Goralski (Missouri City, Texas) combined for eight straight kills to lead their team to the game victory. Goralski would finish with seven kills on the night.
In game two, the Irish jumped to a 7-2 lead before the Eagles could react. Notre Dame freshman middle blocker Katie Neff (St. Louis, Mo.) had two blocks and a kill in the game while the dynamic duo of Girton and Goralski combined for a three-kill stretch to give the Irish a 2-0 lead in the match.
Irish head coach Debbie Brown rested most of her starters in the third game, allowing the talented Notre Dame bench to clinch the match victory. The freshman class of Neff, Kristen Kinder, Jessica Kinder (Fresno, Calif.), Christa Moen (San Antonio, Texas) and Kim Fletcher (St. Louis, Mo.) combined for 14 kills and 11 digs in the contest, most of which came in the final game.
The Irish spikers will be back in action tomorrow night, Nov. 4, at 7:00 p.m., in a non-conference matchup with North Carolina (22-5). Fans unable to catch the Irish – Tar Heel match live have an opportunity to see the action at 11:00 p.m., that same night on WHME-TV (Channel 46).