Notre Dame volleyball is currently 9-13 (6-8 ACC) and broke its three-game losing streak last weekend with a five-set win over NC State. They were led by sophomore outside hitter Morgan Gaerte, who had 21 kills, making it her sixth game this season in which she earned over 20 kills and her 22nd game this season in which she had double-digit kills. Junior outside hitter Sydney Helmers followed Gaerte closely, getting her second career double-double with 14 kills and 19 digs, also setting a career high. Defensively, the Irish continue to dominate the net, with sophomore middles Anna Bjork and Grace Langer having 91 and 98 blocks, respectively. Gaerte is currently fourth in the ACC in kills per set with 4.36 and fourth in points per set with 5.07, and senior outside hitter Lucy Trump is currently ninth in the ACC in aces with a total of 28. If the Notre Dame defense can stop Miami and Florida State’s hitters, whether it’s through blocking or digging, the offense will fall into line and find as many chances for scoring as they can, creating potential for an Irish success.
Miami
Miami is currently ranked 14th in the AVCA coaches poll and could potentially become the fifth seed for its region of the NCAA Tournament bracket with its current record of 21-4 (11-3 ACC). The Hurricanes are currently riding a high, having two back-to-back five-set wins over Florida State, their first victory over the Seminoles since 2021, and are hoping to continue their winning streak moving into the back half of ACC play. Both wins were headed by senior outside hitter Flormarie Heredia Colon, who totaled 74 kills with 42 in their first win, setting a new personal and program record and continuing to top the ACC stat charts leading in kills per set (5.96), points (622.5 total) and points per set (6.77). After their performance against Florida State, Colon and redshirt sophomore setter Ariana Rodriguez earned ACC Player of the Week honors. Colon received ACC Offensive Player of the Week and Rodriguez received Co-Setter of the Week for her back-to-back double-doubles with a total of 96 assists and 28 digs. Rodriguez leads the ACC in service aces with 97 total and is sixth in the ACC with 9.63 assists per set.
Florida State
The Seminoles are currently 13-10 on the season and 7-7 in conference play as of the afternoon of Nov. 13. They are currently riding a two-game losing streak after their games against Miami. Florida State currently leads in matchups against the Irish 16-5, and Notre Dame hasn’t beaten the Seminoles since 2021. Senior outside hitter Iane Henke has put on one of the best seasons the Seminoles have seen, being second on the team with 321 kills but third in the ACC in kills per set (4.52) and points per set (5.97). Henke’s stats put her 13th in the country in points per set and 20th for kills per set. Henke is second in kills to junior outside hitter Kyleene Filimaua, who has 343, making her ninth in the ACC in kills per set (3.73) and eighth in points (4.27).
Notre Dame will face Miami on Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. and Florida State on Nov. 16 at noon, both in Purcell Pavilion.
