NOTRE DAME, Ind. –Women's volleyball dropped an exciting back-and-forth contest Friday night against a strong Notre Dame team on its home court. Junior Samantha Graver recorded 16 kills, her most since September of 2017, to go along with 14 digs. Senior Kathryn Wood joined her with a double-double of 45 assists and 10 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two sides kept the first set to a one-point affair until the 10-9 mark. With a slim lead, the Irish rattled off three consecutive points before La Salle responded. The home side continued its momentum with five straight, putting the set at 18-10. The away side rallied, but the Irish held them off for a 25-19 advantage
• The Explorers jumped out to a 6-3 start in the second frame. Notre Dame would lock it up at 7-7 until the road side battles to a 12-9 lead. La Salle held the Irish at a three-point distance, but Notre Dame would close the gap, eventually taking the lead at 26-25. La Salle battled back to claim the set through a kill from sophomore Elizabeth Osborn, a team block, and an ace by junior Allison Laucella.
• For a second straight set, the Explorers jumped out to a lead, marking a 5-3 start with an Osborn kill. The Irish responded emphatically, however, going on a 7-1 run. La Salle would get within one point at 11-10, but that would be the closest they came to bridging the gap (coming within two points five times in the set.)
• The team exchanged points until 5-5 of the final set. The home team went on a 5-2 run, but La Salle responded with a 7-3 stretch of its own, taking the lead at 14-13 via an Osborn kill. A back-and-forth ensued, with La Salle edging in front at 20-19, but Notre Dame responded decisively with four consecutive points. The Explorers got within one, notably trailing 24-23, until the Irish's junior Hannah Thompson made the decisive play. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Freshman Rachel Hess impressed with 19 digs in her first game as an Explorer. That tally is the most in a debut since Kayla Beck recorded 23 digs against Youngstown State in 2007.
• Three Explorers registered double-digit kills: Graver, senior Devin Corah (13), and Osborn (10.) Of the three, Corah recorded the highest kill percentage at .303.
• Senior Catherine Edgington led the team in total blocks with six, followed by Corah and freshman Marisa Guisti with four each.
• Staying on the defensive side, three Explorers finished with at least 10 digs: Hess, Graver (14) and Wood (10).
• La Salle outscored the Irish in most statistical categories: points (69 - 61.5), kills (56 -44), blocks (10 – 9), assists (53 – 41) and digs (66 – 62.)

 UP NEXT

• The Explorers will have two chances at their first win of the season on Saturday. They begin with Bowling Green at 10 a.m. and then face Wright State ate 4:30 p.m.