Oct. 23, 2001
The University of Notre Dame volleyball team (13-4) returned to competition after a week off with a hard-fought five-game victory (28-30, 30-25, 26-30, 30-27, 17-15) at Kentucky on Tuesday evening. The 20th-ranked Irish had not played since last week’s (Oct. 16) loss at #16 Northern Iowa, but rallied from behind in the first of two consecutive matches on the road this week. Notre Dame will face Saint Louis University tomorrow, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m.
Notre Dame looked to its two top threats on offense to carry the team to the victory, and Malinda Goralski and Kristy Kreher responded with two solid performances. Goralski, who has developed into a force at the net this season, blocked 11 shots (matching a career best) and posted 18 kills on .368 hitting against the Wildcats.
Kreher shook off a sub-par hitting match at Northern Iowa last week to hit .484 with 15 kills. The Irish opposite did not commit a single hitting error in the contest (31 attempts). Co-captain Marcie Bomhack (12 kills), sophomore Kim Fletcher (11) and freshman Emily Loomis (11) joined their teammates in the double-digit kill category. Sophomore setter Kristen Kinder contributed 54 assists, a career-high five aces, and 14 digs in the victory.