CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia volleyball team (10-15, 3-12 ACC) defeated Notre Dame (10-13, 4-11 ACC) in five sets (25-23, 19-25, 24-26, 25-23, 16-14) at Memorial Gymnasium on Sunday (Nov. 12).
The Hoos were led by Brooklyn Borum and Abby Tadder who each set career-highs in kills with each throwing down 21. Setter Ashley Le contributed a double-double with 41 assists and 22 digs.
Set 1: Virginia 25, Notre Dame 23
After the Fighting Irish opened with a 7-6 lead, the Cavaliers launched on a 10-1 scoring run to take a commanding 16-8 lead. Notre Dame chipped away at the lead, eventually taking a 23-22 advantage, but the Hoos closed out with three straight kills to claim the opening frame. Tadder finished with nine kills on a .500 hitting clip along with two blocks in the first set.
Set 2: Notre Dame 25, Virginia 19
Virginia was unable to replicate any runs that they saw in the first half, as Notre Dame’s defense kept them from finding an offensive rhythm in the second frame. The Fighting Irish sparked a 5-2 run to level the match at 1-1. Borum recorded five kills and a block in set No. 2.
Set 3: Notre Dame 26, Virginia 24
Despite the Hoos being able to stay within striking distance of Notre Dame throughout the set, the Fighting Irish utilized a 5-0 and 5-2 scoring runs late in the frame to take a 2-1 lead over the Cavaliers.
Set 4: Virginia 25, Notre Dame 23
Neither of the two sides were able to break away from the other in the fourth period, as the Hoos and Fighting Irish traded blows back and forth throughout. UVA knotted the game up after claiming five of the final seven points. Le assisted 16 of Virginia’s 20 kills in the fourth period.
Set 5: Virginia 16, Notre Dame 14
Virginia’s offensive momentum continued from set No. 4 as the Cavaliers opened up with multiple short bursts of scoring to take a 13-9 lead. Notre Dame made a final push to level the game and forced extra points with a 5-1 run but a kill from Veresia Yon and attack error from the visitors sealed the victory for the Hoos. Yon threw down three kills and made two blocks in the final set.
FROM HEAD COACH SHANNON WELLS:
“I’m really proud of our team! In the last few weeks, we’ve been in situations where we’ve lost sets by two or three points. Over the last seven days we worked on how to finish out sets and matches. I wouldn’t have wanted so many sets in this one, but the reality is we knew what we needed to do when those sets got tight at 19-19 and 21-21. To see…