STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish advanced to 3-1 on the season after defeating Mississippi State on Sunday, September 8 in the StarkVegas Classic.
After falling to Michigan in four sets last night, the Irish ended the weekend with a big five-set win over the SEC opponent and StarkVegas Classic host, Mississippi State.
What a day for senior Phyona Schrader, who after a great opening weekend last weekend, did it again for the second weekend in a row. She finished with a triple-double of 18 kills, 25 assists, and 14 digs, also recording a .375 hitting percentage, 4 blocks, and 2 service aces.
Sydney Palazzolo led the way with a team-best 20 kills, 16 digs, and 3 service aces. Lucy Trump finished with 11 kills and Grace Langer recorded a team-best 5 blocks. Ella Sandt tallied 25 assists and Hattie Monson finished with 25 digs.
The Irish were off to a hot start in set one, taking a 6-1 lead and forcing an early Mississippi State timeout. An Anna Bjork kill extended the Irish lead 9-3, but the Bulldogs soon closed the gap to 10-8 and kept it within two at 17-15. Another Bjork kill sparked the Irish offense as they were able to pull away at 20-15 and go on to win set one 25-20.
While the Irish never trailed in set one, they struggled to put themselves out in front until late in the second set. They claimed their first lead of the set at 18-17 and traded points with the Bulldogs until 23-22 mark, forcing a Mississippi State timeout. An ace and a kill from the Bulldogs brought them to set point at 24-22, but the Irish weren’t done yet. Two kills from Palazzolo and an ace from Trump gave the Irish three straight points to secure the set two win 26-24.
Mississippi State carried their momentum into set three as they posted an early 10-5 leave, extending the lead to seven at 17-10. The Irish were able to bring it within four at 22-18, but the Bulldogs took the set three win 25-20.
It was back-and-forth in the fourth set with both squads struggling to pull away from the other. The Irish led 22-20 before a 4-1 run from the Bulldogs made it match point at 24-23. Back-to-back kills from Anna Bjork put the Irish back in front 25-24. Tied at 25-all, 26-all, and 27-all, Mississippi State put it away to win 29-27 and take it into five sets.
A kill and back-to-back aces from Palazzolo gives the Irish the early 3-0 start to set five, giving the Irish a spark to go on and claim a big 7-2 lead. The…