November 6, 1998

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – n the most crucial match of the season, the Notre Dame women’s volleyball team defeated Georgetown 15-8, 11-15, 15-8, 15-9 to force a three-way tie atop the BIG EAST regular season standings with three matches to go in the season.

The Irish (11-11 overall, 7-1 in the BIG EAST) got a great all-around effort from both Christi Girton (Muncie, Ind.) and Lindsay Treadwell (Austin, Texas). Girton had a team-high 17 kills and 12 digs for her fourth-straight double-double, while Treadwell added her 11 double-double of the season with a 10 kills, 15 dig performance. Junior Mary Leffers (Tampa, Fla.) also added eight block for the Irish, who outblocked the Hoyas 16-9.

In a seemingly easy game one, Georgetown moved out to a 5-0 lead on the powerful jump serve of Kiran Gill. The Hoyas advanced their lead to 13-9, before the Irish crept back to come within two at 13-11. Georgetown, which was lead by Yulia Vturina’s 17 kills, recovered to take the game 15-11 and even the match at one game apiece. In game four, the Irish found themselves down again. Behind 8-3, the Irish scored several point in a row on the serve of Girton, Michelle Graham (Austin, Texas) and Jo Jameyson (Alvin, Texas). The Irish took the lead at 9-8 on a kills by Leffers and proceeded to increase their lead to 10-8 on a block by Leffers and Girton. The Hoyas would only score one more point, as Notre Dame took the game and match 15-9 .

With the win, the Irish find themselves tied for first with Georgetown (20-4 overall, 7-1 in the BIG EAST) and Connecticut who is also 7-1 in the BIG EAST. Should the regular season end in a tie, the BIG EAST regular season title will be determined by winning percentage in conference matches.

Notre Dame will play host to Villanova this Sunday in anther BIG EAST matchup at 2 p.m. at the Joyce Center Arena, before hitting the road for the final BIG EAST matches against Pittsburgh and West Virginia next weekend.