WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – On the first day of the Atlantic Region Crossover hosted by West Liberty, Notre Dame College split their double-header. After the Falcons' seven game win streak was snapped with a 3-1 loss to Shippensburg University, NDC bounced back with a 3-0 win over Slippery Rock University, on Friday.

Shippensburg jumped out to an 11-5 advantage, following a 6-0 run in the first set. Notre Dame snuck back into the game, cutting the deficit to two points, 13-11. However, Shippensburg went on to win 25-18. SU would finish with a hit percentage of .375 in the first set.

To start the second set, the Raiders scored the first four points, but NDC then answered with five straight. After that moment, six lead changes took place. SU took the lead and expanded that lead to five points, twice (15-10, 22-17). Shippensburg won the set 25-20, to go ahead 2-0 in the match.

The Falcons fell behind early in the third set, but did not allow Shippensburg to pull away. The Raiders' lead never exceeded four points. That gave Notre Dame life and set up a big run 7-1 run to end the set. Down 22-18, NDC used four kills by senior Natalie Spadaro and three attack errors to win, 25-23.

In the fourth set, the Raiders jumped out to a 9-2 lead and would win 25-17, closing out the match. Shippensburg had a hit percentage of .389 in the final set.

"We knew this weekend, we were going to play some high level opponents that made us work," said head coach Travis Hinkle. "In the match against Shippensburg, we got ourselves into holes the first two sets, battled back, but then couldn't take the lead."

Sophomore Katie Richardson had seven kills and six blocks but added five aces, which is ties her for second in a four set match in NDC history. Freshman Sarah DeGeorge led the team with nine kills and also had 14 digs. Senior Paige Staudacher totaled 30 assists and 13 digs while senior Alexandra Kaeberlein had 20 digs. The Falcons recorded 10 aces, which is tied for fourth in program history in a four set match.

Gabriella Johnson led both teams with 18 kills and 26 digs. Emily Hangen had 55 assists and 24 digs. The Raiders held a .246 hit percentage.

In match two, NDC took the lead with an early 6-1 run, going ahead by a score of 8-6. Slippery Rock would close within one point, but the Falcons outscored the Rock 12-5 to end the set and won, 25-17.

Notre Dame sprung out to a 5-1 lead in the second set and later, another 6-1 run put the Falcons in front by a score of 15-9. NDC won the set 25-16.

Set number three was the closest. After seven lead changes throughout the contest, NDC started to pull away. The Falcons extended their lead to five, 23-18, and they would go on to win 25-22.

"In The Slippery Rock match, we did a great job starting fast and finishing each set," Hinkle said. "We flowed as a team, we relaxed and just had fun. It's good momentum to get us ready for two more tough opponents tomorrow… It was great evening on the court after having a tough afternoon."
 
DeGeorge had 13 kills and 10 digs for NDC. Freshman Blaire Barr recorded 10 kills and a hit percentage of .391. Alexandra Kaeberlein totaled 31 digs, which broke the NDC record for a three set match, while senior Riley Coleman finished with a season-high 13 digs. Notre Dame broke the team record for digs in a three set match with 90.

Stephanie Jacobsen led Slippery Rock with nine kills and Zoe Rivet added 19 assists.

Tomorrow, Notre Dame is scheduled to battle Mercyhurst University at 12 p.m. and Clarion University at 2 p.m. in West Liberty, W.Va.