The Notre Dame women’s volleyball team has a busy weekend ahead of them. The 6-2 Irish will host Boston College on Friday and Syracuse on Sunday to start their conference schedule.
Eight games into the season, Salima Rockwell’s team has come together well. Looking sharp in their non-conference slate, the Irish have won four consecutive games, including a pair against Toledo last weekend. In the home-and-away duel with the Rockets, Notre Dame won 3-1 at home before collecting a sweep on the road. The visiting win was an impressive one for the Irish even though Toledo has played to a 2-9 record so far.
Boston College should pose more of a challenge. The Eagles are on a nine-game winning streak and are 11-3 on the season. In fact, Boston College has not lost a set since Sept. 3, sweeping each of its last eight opponents. Over the last two seasons, BC has blazed out of the gate, opening 10-1 in 2021 and 10-0 a year ago. This season, the Eagles have averaged 13.6 kills per set while holding their opponents to 10.8. On the defensive side, Anna Murphy was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week this past Monday. The senior libero and Indiana native led the conference with 4.67 digs per set throughout the week. Boston College will look to use Murphy and its early-season momentum to grab a fifth victory in 27 all-time meetings with Notre Dame.
Unlike the Eagles, Syracuse has not gotten off to a hot start this year. Only 2-8 on the season, the Orange must also travel to No. 5 Louisville before coming to South Bend. Syracuse has knocked off Cornell and Morgan State but has failed to win a set in any of its eight losses. The young Orange were led by sophomore Ariana Joubert’s career-high 16 kills in last weekend’s defeat of Morgan State. Freshman Mira Ledermueller, who ranks within the ACC’s top 10 for assists, contributed 33 of them against the Bears.
It’s been a tale of two seasons for Notre Dame’s opponents this weekend. The Irish hope that one strong weekend on the court is in order. Notre Dame will host Boston College at 6:30 p.m. Friday before facing Syracuse at noon Sunday. ACC Network Extra will carry both contests at Purcell Pavilion.
Irish host Boston College and Syracuse for ACC-opening weekend
Senior libero Hattie Monson intently watches play during Notre Dame’s 3-2 defeat of Wake Forest at Purcell Pavilion on Oct. 14, 2022.
