SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame opens up at home this week as they host Illinois and Oklahoma in the 2023 Irish Invitational at Purcell Pavilion. The Irish (2-2) will take on the Fighting Illini (4-1) on Thursday, Sept. 7, in their home opener at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 9, Notre Dame faces the Sooners (4-1) in Purcell at 2 p.m.
NOTRE DAME vs. ILLINOIS
Location: South Bend, Ind. | Purcell Pavilion
TV: ACCNX
Live Stats: Click here
Twitter Updates: @NDvolleyball
Promotion: First 100 students will receive a replica jersey tank top
NOTRE DAME vs. OKLAHOMA
Location: South Bend, Ind. | Purcell Pavilion
TV: ACCNX
Live Stats: Click here
Twitter Updates: @NDvolleyball
Promotion: Camper Reunion
A WEEK IN REVIEW
- Notre Dame volleyball finished the weekend 1-1 in the Catholic Challenge hosted by Villanova as they opened up the tournament with a sweep over the Wildcats (25-17, 25-20, 25-17).
- Sydney Palazzolo led the offensive charge for Notre Dame with 12 kills and a .333 hitting percentage on the night.
- Lauren Tarnoff and Ava Lange each finished with nine kills a piece, followed by Phyona Schrader with seven kills. Nicole Drewnick dished out 30 assists for the Irish and Charity McDowell chipped in a team-high five blocks.
- The Irish took on Santa Clara in day two of the tournament, falling in five sets (25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 23-25, 9-15) to the Broncos.
- The Irish were led by Sydney Palazzolo with 23 kills and five service aces.
- Ava Lange finished with seven kills, followed by Lauren Tarnoff and Phyona Schrader who each recorded six kills a piece.
- Charity McDowell tallied a team-best five blocks, while Tarnoff and Nicole Drewnick chipped in four blocks each.
HISTORY VS. ILLINOIS
- This will be the seventh meeting between the Irish and Illini and the first match up between the two squads in 30 years.
- Notre Dame last faced Illinois on September 10, 1993 as the Irish won in five (15-13, 8-15, 13-15, 15-6, 15-13) in the Reebok Challenge in Chicago, Ill.
- While the Irish won the last match up, the Illini won the five previous matches and lead the overall series 5-1.
- Illinois enters the tournament 4-1, with their only loss coming from Wichita State who took down the Illini in five. The Irish defeated the Shockers in their season opener on August 25 in the Under Armour Challenge at Texas Tech.
HISTORY VS. OKLAHOMA
- This is also just the sixth time in program history that the Irish and Sooners have faced off. Notre Dame leads the overall…