SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-14, 2-12) fell in four sets (18-25, 25-22, 20-25, 19-25) to the North Carolina Tar Heels (18-5, 10-4) at Purcell Pavilion on Friday evening.
Sydney Palazzolo tied her career-high of 25 kills while also recording seven kills and two blocks. Avery Ross and Mallory Bohl each recorded seven kills a piece. Ella Sandt dished out 22 assists, followed by Phyona Schrader with 19 assists. Hattie Monson recorded a team-best 13 digs.
It was back-and-forth to start the first as the Irish trailed by just two at the media timeout. The Irish and Tar Heels would swap points until Notre Dame called a timeout at 19-16. A late Tar Heel run was broken up by an Avery Ross kill, but North Carolina would go on to take set one 25-18.
The Irish posted an early 9-7 lead in the second and back-to-back kills from Palazzolo would extend the Notre Dame lead 11-8. A 5-0 run gave the Irish the 17-11 advantage, forcing a Tar Heel timeout. North Carolina 20-18 before eventually tying it up at 22-all, resulting in the Irish timeout. A Palazzolo kill and ace followed by a Schrader kill gave Notre Dame the set two win 25-22.
Looking for their second set win, North Carolina led 8-3 to start the third. Back-to-back service aces from Schrader brought the Irish within three at 11-8 before tying it up at 13-all. Tied at 19-19, the Tar Heels would go on a 6-1 run to take the third set 25-20.
A Palazzolo kill put the Irish in front 6-5 in set four, but a run from the Tar Heels would give them the 10-6 advantage to force the Notre Dame timeout. It was back-and-forth between the two squads, but North Carolina extended their lead 17-10, resulting in the second Irish timeout. Kills from Ross and Bjork coupled with a Ross and Bjork block, brought the Irish within three at 21-18 to force the North Carolina timeout. The Tar Heels would close out the fourth to take the final set 25-19.
Notre Dame will host the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. in Purcell Pavilion. The Irish celebrated Ella Sandt, Sydney Palazzolo, Lauren Tarnoff, Phyona Schrader, and Hattie Monson in their Senior Night celebration postgame. There will a senior poster giveaway and postgame autograph session after Sunday’s match.