BERKELEY, Calif. — The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-16, 5-14) are traveling to take on Cal (14-17, 6-13) on Saturday, Nov. 30 in the final regular season match of the year. This will be the second time this season that the two squads will face each other. The Irish hosted the Golden Bears earlier this season, defeating Cal in four sets (25-20, 13-25, 25-16, 25-15) on Sunday, Sept. 29 in their first conference win of the season.
NOTRE DAME VS. CAL – Sunday, Nov. 30 at 4 PM (1 PM PT)
Location: Berkeley, CA | Haas Pavilion
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HISTORY VS. CAL
- This will only be the 6th time Notre Dame and Cal have played one another. The Golden Bears lead the overall series 3-2.
- The Irish were led by Phyona Schrader, who recorded her sixth triple-double of the season, tallying 12 kills, 13 digs, 18 assists, and a .429 hitting percentage. Sydney Palazzolo also recorded 12 kills and a team-best 4 service aces.
- Prior to this season, the Irish last faced Cal on Sept. 13, 2008 in the Diet Coke Classic (Minneapolis, Minn.) where the Golden Bears won it in a close five-set battle (17-25, 25-21, 25-20, 23-25, 14-16).
- The last Notre Dame win came on Dec. 6, 1991 where the Irish won in five (10-15, 14-16, 15-13,15-13, 16-14) at the Northern Intercollegiate Championship (Fairborn, Ohio).
PHYONA SCHRADER
- Phyona Schrader was named ACC Setter of the Week on Monday, Sept. 16 after guiding the Irish to a perfect 3-0 week, with two wins over Northwestern and the program’s first-ever win over Colorado State.
- She is now second in the nation for triple-doubles this season (12).
FRESH FACES
- Notre Dame’s incoming freshman class ranked 13th in the nation according to Prep Dig.
- The Irish welcome six freshman to the team, bringing the Irish to a roster size of 22 – Rockwell’s largest roster since starting in 2022.
- The freshman class consists of Grace Langer (MB), Anna Bjork (MB), Kailyn Greene- Gordon (OPP), Mia Radeff (OH), Morgan Gaerte (OH), and Mallory Bohl (MB).
- Gaerte was the number one recruit coming out of Indiana, hailing from Angola High School, just a little over an hour from South Bend.
- Notre Dame also welcomes setter Ella Sandt to the 2024 squad, a graduate transfer from Saint Mary’s.
KEY RETURNERS
- The Irish return five rising sophomores, six rising juniors, a pair of rising seniors, and a pair of graduate students.
- Notre Dame’s two graduate students, Hattie Monson and Lauren Tarnoff, are…