SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – On Friday night, Notre Dame College struggled against a strong offensive showing by Shepherd University, in a 3-1 loss.

Shepherd (12-5, 2-2 MEC) got off to a really quick start, putting 10 of the first 12 points on the scoreboard and won the set, 25-11. Then in the second set, NDC kept the game close until SU grabbed the lead with seven straight points. On that run, the Rams had five kills. Shepherd won the set, 25-19.

In the third set, Notre Dame (6-10, 0-3 MEC) was re-energized. They battled back to take a 5-4 advantage and then tore off nine straight points to go ahead, 14-4. The Falcons had five kills and then used three attack errors and a ball handling error, by Shepherd, on that run. The Rams would cut the lead to four points, but the Falcons closed out the game with a 25-20 set win.

SU scored eight consecutive points in the third set to go ahead 15-8, but the Falcons battled back with a 6-1 run, and trailed by just two points, 16-14. Shepherd ended the set scoring six of the final eight points and won by a score of 25-19.

Junior Mary Kate McHugh and freshman Lizzie Willis led the Falcons with 10 kills, each. Junior Paige Staudacher had 25 assists while freshman Katie Richardson added 10 assists. McHugh also had 16 digs and tied a season-high with three blocks. Junior Alexandra Kaeberlein led the team with 22 digs.

Shepherd had a hit percentage of .234, as a team. Peyton Lindblad led the Rams with 20 kills while Cambriea Hill added 11 kills and 17 digs. Imani Major had 22 digs and Nicole Murray put up a hit percentage of .429 with seven blocks.

Notre Dame will travel to Fairmont State and play tomorrow, September 29. That game will begin at 1 p.m.