WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-8, 4-6 ACC) lost to the Wake Forest Demons (15-6, 6-4 ACC) on the road on Sunday, Oct. 22.
The Irish were led by Sydney Palazzolo with 17 kills and a .306 hitting percentage, followed by Ava Lange with 10 kills. Lauren Tarnoff finished with four kills and three blocks, while Charity McDowell chipped in three kills and four blocks. Nicole Drewnick also dished out 30 assists for Notre Dame.
SET ONE
The Irish and Demon Deacons swapped points to start the match and at 9-all until the Deacons started to pull away to make it 12-9 and force an Irish timeout. The Irish had back-to-back blocks to close the gap to one at 13-12 and kept it close until a 3-0 run capped off by a McDowell kill tied it up at 17-all and forced a Wake Forest timeout. The Deacons responded out of the timeout as they regained the lead at 19-17, but kills from Trump and Lange made it an even 19-19.
A 3-0 run from Wake Forest gave the Deacons a 22-19 edge, but with kills from Palazzolo and Lange along with a service ace from Manitzas, the Irish were back on top at 24-23. The Deacons scored three straight to take home the first set 26-24.
SET TWO
It was a similar start in set two as both teams battled and neither was able to pull away from the other. There were 16 ties and 11 lead changes in the second set. Tied at 16-all, Palazzolo put away back-to-back kills to take the lead 18-16, but the Deacons would rally to recapture the lead at 21-19. A Palazzolo kill made it 22-all, but Wake Forest would go on to score three straight to win set two 25-22.
SET THREE
The Demon Deacons carried the momentum into the third as they posted an early 6-1 lead. Trailing 8-3, the Irish battled back to close the gap to two after back-to-back kills from Palazzolo made it a 9-7 set. The Deacons extended their lead to 14-8, forcing an ND timeout, but another Palazzolo kill would bring the Irish within four at 18-14. The Irish looked to battle back, but the Deacons would take the final set 25-18.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back at home next as they host Miami on Friday, Oct. 27 and Florida State on Sunday, Oct. 29 in Purcell Pavilion.