This week: Notre Dame College volleyball will travel to Ursuline College on August 24 at 2 p.m. They will then go to Vienna, W.Va. for the Ohio Valley Tri-Match on August 25, where they will take on the University of Rio Grande at 12:30 p.m. and then Ohio Valley University at 3 p.m.
Records: Last season, the Falcons held a record of 13-20, overall, and 4-12 in the Mountain East Conference. UC had a record of 8-21 while URG went 5-29. OVU put together a record of 9-20.
Coaches Corner: Travis Hinkle begins his first season at Notre Dame as a head coach after spending eight seasons as an assistant coach with West Liberty and West Virginia Wesleyan. Jayme Plummer begins his third season at the helm of Ursuline and has a record of 25-36. Marlon Sano is entering his second season as head coach with Ohio Valley.
Rankings: None of these teams were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Preseason Poll.
Series History: The Falcons have an all-time record of 4-5 against Ursuline, 1-1 versus Rio Grande and 5-1 against Ohio Valley.
Noting the Falcons: This season, Notre Dame was picked to finish ninth in the MEC preseason poll. NDC returns seven juniors this season, but they do not have a senior on the roster. Last season, junior
Alexandra Kaeberlein led the team, and ranked fifth in the conference, with 551 digs and 4.67 digs-per-set. She was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 First Team.
Paige Staudacher, also a junior, led the team with 1191 assists last season and ranked third in the conference with assists-per-set (10.12). Junior
Natalie Spadaro ranked third on the team in points (340), points-per-set (3.09), kills (292) and kills-per-set (2.65).
Noting the Arrows: Ursuline is also a young team with eight combined sophomores and freshmen with only two seniors. Vikki Henderson, who was named to the All-Great Midwest Second Team, recorded 404.5 points last season, 345 kills and an attack percentage of 22.3-percent, all of which led the team. She also led the team with 43 service aces. Katelyn Selleny led the team with 623 assists. On the defensive side, Zoe Skinner wrapped up last season with a team-high 343 digs and 4.23 digs-per-set. Jill Morrow had 68 blocks, which was 30 more than anyone else on the team had.
Noting the Fighting Scots: Ohio Valley does not have a senior on the roster, but they have experience with juniors making up half of the roster. Jessica Rafay had 335.5 points last year and 298 kills, both led the team. Dana Lichtendonk had an attack percentage of 26.4 and 37 service aces. Stephany Orjuela had a team high 936 assists. On the defensive side, Fa'aaliga Mikaele ended the campaign with 309 digs while Kalyn Makimoto 290 digs. Lichtendonk also had 69 blocks, including 60 block assists.
