SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-7, 2-5) battled Wake Forest (11-8, 3-5) at home, falling in three sets (24-26, 25-27, 12-25). Freshman Morgan Gaerte led the way with 15 kills while freshmen Anna Bjork and Grace Langer recorded a team-best five blocks a piece.
It was a close set one as the Irish led by one before a 3-0 run that included a solo block from Langer and a kill from Gaerte made it 12-8. The Demon Deacons responded with a run of their own as they took the lead 18-16 to force an Irish timeout.
A block from Langer and Gaerte kept it within two at 22-20. At set point 24-21, the Irish went on another 3-0 run as a block from Avery Ross and Bjork tied it up at 24-all. The Demon Deacons would send home two final points to take set one 26-24
It was another close battle in set two. The Irish led 13-9 in set two until a 4-0 Wake Forest run tied it up at 13-all. It was back and forth as there were six ties from 20-all to final set two score of 27-25 as the Demon Deacons took the 2-0 advantage heading into set three.
Tied at 6-all to start the third, the Demon Deacons started to pull away with a 5-0 run. The Irish had it within six at 18-12, but Wake Forest would go on to take set three 25-12.
The Irish hit the road as they travel to face No. 12 SMU on Friday, Oct. 25 and No. 1 Pitt on Sunday, Oct. 27.