SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-12, 2-10) fell at home to No. 4 Louisville (19-3, 11-1) in three sets on Saturday, Nov. 2 (12-25, 16-25, 12-25).
Phyona Schrader recorded a team-best 6 kills, 7 digs, 13 assists, and 2 blocks. Sydney Palazzolo chipped in five kills, followed by Anna Bjork with four kills.
It was a close start in the first set, as a Palazzolo kill put the Irish in front at 7-6 before a big run from the Cardinals forced two Notre Dame timeouts. Trailing 16-8 at the second timeout, the Irish tried to close the gap but fell 25-12 in set one.
It was back and forth to start the second as the Cardinals started to pull away. Trailing 16-8, a block from Schrader and Mallory Bohl sparked the Irish play as a 5-0 Notre Dame run brought it within three at 16-13 to force the Louisville timeout. The Cardinals came out of the timeout scoring back-to-back points until a block from Schrader and Bjork kept it within four. Louisville would go on to take the second set 25-16.
In the final set, the Cardinals would post an early lead of 6-1 to force a quick Irish timeout and would lead the remainder of the third as they took set three 25-12.
The Irish are back in action at Boston College on Friday, Nov. 8 and Syracuse on Sunday, Nov. 10.