This week: Notre Dame College will play five matches this week and they begin with a match down the street in University Heights, Ohio on September 6 against John Carroll University at 7 p.m. They will travel to Charleston, W.V. this weekend as they will play in the MEC/PSAC Crossover. On September 8, the Falcons take on Indiana University of Pennsylvania at 1 p.m. and Kutztown University at 4 p.m. and then on September 9, they take on Slippery Rock University at 10 a.m. and then Shippensburg University at 4 p.m.

Records: The Falcons are 2-2 in 2017 and John Carroll holds a record of 1-3. Indiana (Pa.) is 3-1 while Kutztown is 2-2. Slippery Rock is 4-0 and Shippensburg is 1-3.

Coaches Corner: Notre Dame volleyball head coach, Troy Haught is entering his third season and he holds an overall record of 22-45, 11-21 in the MEC. Michele Benoit is in her first season as the head coach of John Carroll's program. Scott Pennewill is in his third season with Indiana Pa. and he has a record of 40-27. John Gump is in his 21st season as the coach of Kutztown and has amassed a record of 364-274. Laurie Lokash is in her 34th season as head coach of Slippery Rock and holds a record of 618-523. At Shippensburg, Leanne Piscotty has been at the helm for 14 seasons and has a record of 300-188.

Rankings: None of the teams were ranked in the top-25 in the AVCA Coaches Preseason Poll.

Series History: The Falcons are 1-0 over John Carroll and 0-4 against Indiana Pa. NDC last played the Crimson Hawks in 2015 and lost 3-2. They have never played Kutztown, Slippery Rock or Shippensburg.

Noting the Falcons: The Falcons traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida and started the season playing in the Eckerd College Invitational last weekend, going 2-2. They beat the University of West Georgia and Kentucky Wesleyan College 3-1 but fell to Saint Edward's University and Eckerd College. Sophomore Ali Kaeberlein and senior Melissa Maczuzak were named to the All-Tournament Team. Maczuzak had 60 kills and 46 digs while Kaeberlein recorded 54 digs.

Noting the Blue Streaks: The Blue Streaks are 1-3 after playing in the Haverford Invitational in Haverford, Pennsylvania last weekend, losing to #16 Eastern University, #9 University of Mary Washington and Haverford College. They were able to get a win over Rowan University, 3-1. Julianne McGervey had 50 kills in four matches, junior Thommie Jackson had a team-best eight blocks, and junior Caitlin Cianciolo, who was named to the all-tournament team, led the Blue Streaks with 82 digs.

Noting the Crimson Hawks: The Crimson Hawks are 3-1 after competing in the Quality Inn Crimson Hawk Invitational, beating Ursuline College, Daemen College and Roberts Wesleyan 3-0 with their only match loss coming to #6 Palm Beach Atlantic. Senior Natalie Cignetti recorded 41 kills, senior Katie Miller had 109 assists, and junior Jess Marut added 60 digs. IUP finished last season ranked ninth in the Atlantic Region.

Noting the Golden Bears: At the Elizabeth City State Tournament in Virginia Beach, Va., Kutztown went 2-2, beating Converse College and Elizabeth City State 3-0. The Golden Bears lost to Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Mount Olive. Brittney Moyer recorded 56 kills and 15 digs and Jessica Howe had 28 kills. Sydney Wilson had seven aces while Moyer had six aces in their win over Elizabeth City State.

Noting the Rock: Slippery Rock went 4-0 in the Viking Virginia Beach Invitational, also in Virginia Beach, Virginia defeating Elizabeth City State University, Converse College, University of Mount Olive and University of Alaska Fairbanks. Converse was the only opponent to win a set against SRU. Courtney Oberlander had 61 digs and her teammate Kaley Fucci put up 31 kills and 27 digs. The Rock was strong on defense as Alaska Fairbanks had the highest hitting percentage of the four teams (.103) and the lowest was Elizabeth City State (-.048).

Noting the Raiders: Shippensburg went 1-3 at the Flagler Saints Invitational in St. Augustine, Florida with their only win coming against Purdue Northwest while they fell to Flagler College, Florida Tech and Purdue Northwest earlier in the tournament. Samantha Webber recorded 42 digs and Morgan DeFloria had 46 kills and 39 digs. The Raiders finished 2016 ranked fifth in the Atlantic Region.