STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are back in action this weekend as they compete in the StarkVegas Classic hosted by Mississippi State.
The Irish face Michigan at 7 pm ET on Saturday, Sept. 7, and Mississippi State at 1 pm ET on Sunday, Sept. 8.
Notre Dame is coming off of a 2-0 weekend after sweeping Villanova and defeating Santa Clara in four in the Catholic Challenge last weekend. With big performances from Ella Sandt, Hattie Monson, and Anna Bjork, all three were named to the Catholic Challenge All-Tournament Team.
Bjork, a freshman middle blocker, had a great opening weekend with the Irish as she recorded 14 kills, a .480 hitting percentage, 11 blocks, and nine digs.
Phyona Schrader had a big first weekend of her senior season with 19 kills, 29 assists, 9 blocks, and five aces.
NOTRE DAME vs. MICHIGAN – Saturday, September 7 at 7 PM ET (6 PM CT)
Location: Starkville, Miss.| Newell-Grissom Building
LIVE STATS | SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES
NOTRE DAME vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE – Sunday, September 8 at 2 PM ET (1 PM CT)
Location: Starkville, Miss.| Newell-Grissom Building
WATCH ON SECN+ | LIVE STATS | SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES
HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN
- This will be the 18th meeting between the Irish and the Wolverines with Notre Dame leading the overall series 9-8.
- The last match up between the two squads was back in 2019. Notre Dame and Michigan played twice that year in a home and home, with the Irish taking the first match in a close five-set battle (25-23, 27-29, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13) on Sept. 18. Just a few days later, Michigan would win it in four (23-25, 15-25, 25-20, 16-25) on Sept. 22.
HISTORY VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
- This is just the third time in program history that the Irish and Bulldogs have faced off with the overall series split at 1-1.
- Notre Dame and Mississippi State last played each other back in 2022, where the Bulldogs traveled to South Bend to compete in the Irish Invitational in Coach Rockwell’s first season with the Irish. Mississippi State won in three (19-25, 16-25, 18-25). Avery Ross led the Irish with nine kills, followed by Phyona Schrader with six and Lucy Trump with five.
- The very first match up was back in 2015, where Notre Dame defeated the Bulldogs in four sets (28-26, 24-26, 25-14, 25-16) on Sept. 11 in Purcell Pavilion.
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…