This week: Notre Dame College volleyball will take part in the Vulcan Invitational in California, Pa. on September 7 and 8. The Falcons will take on California University of Pa. at 11 a.m. and Bloomsburg University at 4 p.m. on September 7. On September 8, they will play Mercyhurst University at 11 a.m. and Indiana University of Pa. at 4 p.m.

Records: The Falcons are currently 2-5 while Cal Pa. is 4-4. Bloomsburg is 2-3, Mercyhurst has a record of 3-6 and IUP is 2-6.

Coaches Corner: Travis Hinkle is in his first season at Notre Dame while Peter Letourneau enters his eighth season, holding a record of 175-73 at California. Dan Kreiger is in his first season as the head coach of Bloomsburg, a program that is in their first season of varsity competition. Ryan Patton has been at the helm of Mercyhurst for 14 seasons and has a record of 213-193. Scott Pennewill is in his fourth season at Indiana (Pa.) with a 62-36 record.

Rankings: None of these teams were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Preseason Poll.

Series History: The Falcons have an all-time record of 0-1 against California (Pa.), 0-6 versus Mercyhurst and 0-6 versus Indiana (Pa.). The Falcons have never played Bloomsburg.

Noting the Falcons: Last weekend, Notre Dame went 1-3 in the Hall of Fame City Challenge. They did have two players named to the All-Tournament team with Mary Kate McHugh leading the tournament in kills-per-set and Alexandra Kaeberlein at the top spot for digs-per-set. They also beat Malone University for the first time in program history. In the matchup with the Pioneers on August 31, the Falcons swept the match, but did not win any of the sets by more than three points. They did use five aces on offense and nine service errors on the Malone side to their advantage. McHugh had 13 kills and 14 digs in the game and Alexandra Kaeberlein had 22 digs. In a loss versus Daemen College on September 1, McHugh had 18 kills while Paige Staudacher added 39 assists. McHugh already has 106 kills and 114.5 points. Staudacher has 247 assists and nine service aces. Alexandra Kaeberlein has 168 digs and is currently 17th in NCAA Division II in total digs, while also ranking seventh in the nation at 6.64 digs-per-set. Erin Daugherty has recorded 10 blocks.

Noting the Vulcans: Cal Pa. defeated West Virginia Wesleyan College on August 31 by a score of 3-2. In the win, Rachel Priore had 22 kills, a hit percentage of 36.7-percent and 15 digs. Sarah Benson had 46 assists and Shelby Alloway added three aces. Following that win, the Vulcans won only one more set, and lost the other three games in the Bellarmine Holiday Inn Airport East Fair/Expo Kickoff. However, Priore was recognized for her play and was named to the All-Tournament Team. California is averaging an impressive 2.1 aces-per-set. Priore currently sits at 90 kills this season and Benson has 261. Jensen Silbaugh has 119 digs this season with 3.97 digs-per-set while Tina Bellhy has 22 blocks.

Noting the Huskies: Bloomsburg went 1-3 in the Walsh tournament last weekend, but picked up their first win in program history against Virginia Union University on August 31. The Huskies did get a win over Chestnut Hill College on September 4 in their first home game, which was a 3-0 sweep. On average, Bloomsburg records 12.1 kills-per-set and 17.4 digs-per-set. Sarah Gormish leads the squad at 60 kills. Emma Van Arsdale has 124 assists and 10 aces. Alyssa Cianciulli leads the team with 88 digs.

Noting the Lakers: Mercyhurst was able to take only one game in the PSAC/Mountain East Crossover last weekend, as they defeated the University of Charleston, 3-2. In their home opener, MU defeated Point Park on September 5. The Lakers' Alyssa Zirnheld had 15 kills and two aces. Zoe Gadomski led the team with 22 digs. This season, the Lakers have struggled in the first set, as they have been outscored by an average of four points. Katie Baird has 95 kills on the season while Zirnheld has accumulated 35 assists and 10 aces so far. Gadomski is at 113 digs and Alyssa Kling has put down 27 total blocks.

Noting the Crimson Hawks: Indiana (Pa.) achieved their first two wins of the campaign in the Quality Inn Crimson Hawks Invitational last weekend. They had convincing victories over Holy Family (3-1) and Roberts Wesleyan (3-0). On August 31, Holy Family committed 35 attack errors while Kylie Osborn reached a mark of 16 kills and an attack percentage of 28.2-percent. On September 1, Roberts Wesleyan's highest attack percentage to end a set was 4.8-percent. In that contest, Dominica Niccolai helped the Crimson Hawks out with 32 assists. This year, IUP is allowing 2.1 aces-per-set while averaging 1.3 aces in each set. Osborn has accumulated 84 kills (3.56 per set) and Niccolai has 217 assists on the season. Jess Marut leads the team with 162 digs and is tied for 21st in the nation in total digs.