Virginia
Irish Sweep Virginia Friday Night
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame volleyball team secured the ‘Pink Game’ sweep Friday night inside Purcell Pavilion, taking down Virginia 25-19, 25-22, 25-17. The Irish improved to 6-7 on the season and 3-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. It’s the third sweep of a conference opponent for Notre Dame this season and the fifth overall.
The Irish got a huge lift from Sydney Helmers. The junior broke out, going for a career-high 17 kills to lead Notre Dame. It was the third game in double digits for Helmers and the second against a conference opponent (Syracuse, 12 kills). Helmers had seven of those kills in the opening set, including the set clincher, to set the tone.
For the second-straight game, Mae Kordas set a career-high in kills. This time, the freshman notched 10, her first double-digit kill game of her young career. Kordas hit .556, leading the team.
Morgan Gaerte finished the evening with 10 kills, making it 13-straight matches of double-digit kills to begin the season. She also surpassed 200 on the season, making her just the seventh player in the conference to do so.
Maya Baker (17 assists) and Harmony Sample (15 assists) set up a potent Notre Dame offensive attack, while Lucy Trump and Anna Bjork both had a pair of service aces. Trump’s second service ace clinched the second set for the Irish.
Notre Dame will look to continue the momentum when Virginia Tech comes to town Sunday for a 1:00 p.m. serve. The match will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra and posters and postgame autographs will be available for fans.
How it happened
Set 1
- On the first offensive possession for the Irish, Gaerte flushed a kill past the backrow of Virginia, marking the 200th of the season for the sophomore
- Notre Dame opened the game on a 7-4 run behind kills from Gaerte, Helmers and Kordas
- Irish lead 15-10 at the media timeout behind four early kills from Helmers
- Helmers finished with seven kills in the set, including the set clincher
- Notre Dame hit .324 in the opening frame while holding Virginia to just .067
Set 2
- A 3-0 run for Notre Dame gave the Irish an early 9-8 lead highlighted by back-to-back Gaerte kills
- Down 14-16, the Irish ripped off a 6-1 run to take a 20-17 lead behind a pair of assists and a kill from Harmony Sample
- Helmers’ notched her 11th and 12th kill of the game on consecutive possessions to put Notre Dame up 23-20
- Trump sealed the second set with a beautiful ace, deflecting off a Cavalier that gave the Irish a 2-0 lead.
Set 3
- Helmers secured a career-high with her 13th kill of the game, this time a back row attack, to tie the third set at four-all.
- After falling behind by three, Notre Dame clawed back to take a 15-13 lead at the media timeout
- After a Virginia 3-0 run made it 18-17 Irish, Notre Dame never looked back, closing the match on a 7-0 run to win the set 25-17 and sweep the match.
There’s little change in the latest High School on SI Virginia girls basketball Top 25 poll as all 25 squads return from last week.
Undefeated Princess Anne is again No. 1 followed by The Saint James Performance Academy, Bishop Ireton, Catholic-Virginia Beach and Menchville. Shining Stars Sports Academy, Manchester, Potomac School, Saint Anne’s-Belfield School and Osbourn Park complete the Top 10.
Five teams – Langley, Manor, Thomas Dale, Oakton and Centreville – each moved up one spot.
Here’s this week’s High School on SI Virginia girls basketball Top 25:
Previous rank: No. 1
Record: 17-0
The Cavaliers defeated No. 16 Salem-Virginia Beach, 70-45, and Bayside, 86-13.
Previous rank: No. 2
Record: 12-3
The Strivers extended their winning streak to 10 with a 63-37 decision over Kingdom Collegiate Academy (Tex.).
Previous rank: No. 3
Record: 14-5
The Cardinals defeated No. 11 Saint Paul VI Catholic, 57-53 after a loss to Elizabeth Seton (Md.)
Previous rank: No. 4
Record: 12-8
The Crusaders defeated Norfolk Academy and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy by a combined 148 points.
Previous rank: No. 5
Record: 11-1
The Monarchs are scheduled to play Woodside Tuesday.
Previous rank: No. 6
Record: 12-4
The Panthers defeated Newman (Mass.) and Saint Frances Academy (Md.) at The More Than A Highlight Showcase in New York.
Previous rank: No. 7
Record: 14-1
The Lancers ran their winning streak to 13 with a 93-22 victory over Huguenot.
Previous rank: No. 8
Record: 12-6
The Panthers rebounded from a loss to District of Columbia No. 2 Sidwell Friends School with wins over Georgetown Day School (D.C.) and Flint Hill School (Va.).
Previous rank: No. 9
Record: 13-3
The Saints defeated Trinity Episcopal School, 80-33.
Previous rank: No. 10
Record: 12-6
The Yellowjackets defeated Unity Reed.
Previous rank: No. 11
Record: 16-5
The Panthers dropped an overtime decision to No. 3 Bishop Ireton.
Previous rank: No. 12
Record: 14-5
The Patriots dropped decisions to Monsignor Scanlan (N.Y.) and Gill Saint Bernard’s School (N.J.).
Previous rank: No. 13
Record: 15-1
The Stallions defeated Lake Braddock and Carter G. Woodson.
Previous rank: No. 16
Record: 15-1
The Eagles have won eight straight by double-digits.
Previous rank: No. 15
Record: 12-3
The Wolverines defeated West Springfield and James W. Robinson.
Previous rank: No. 16
Record: 15-3
The Sundevils rebounded from a loss to No. 1 Princess Anne with a 78-7 win over Kempsville.
Previous rank: No. 17
Record: 13-4
The Knights defeated Landstown (75-47) and First Colonial (73-21).
Previous rank: No. 19
Record: 16-1
The Saxons defeated McLean, 55-23.
Previous rank: No. 20
Record: 12-1
The Mustangs defeated Churchland.
Previous rank: No. 21
Record: 14-0
The Knights defeated Petersburg (73-30) and Hopewell (72-46).
Previous rank: No. 22
Record: 15-4
The Cougars defeated Westfield and James Madison.
Previous rank: No. 23
Record: 13-4
The Wildcats defeated James Madison and then-No. 18 Chantilly.
Previous rank: No. 23
Record: 17-1
The Spartans defeated Lord Botetourt (42-31) and Cave Spring (56-19).
Previous rank: No. 24
Record: 14-2
The Bulldogs defeated Indian River and Oscar Smith by an average margin of 65 points.
Previous rank: No. 25
Record: 10-7
The Ambassadors defeated Norfolk Collegiate Academy, 77-32.
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