West Liberty, W.Va. – Notre Dame College volleyball traveled down to Hilltopper country for their first Mountain East Conference regular season match of 2021. The Falcons left West Liberty victorious after five sets in what was an absolute slug fest of a contest. With the win, Notre Dame reaches 10-6 (1-0 MEC), while the loss moves West Liberty to 9-8 (0-1 MEC).
 
The Hilltoppers started the evening strong by claiming the first set 20-25. In set two, WLU seemed to ground the Falcons after their 28-30 set win, to grab a commanding two sets to none lead. However, Co-Head Coaches Hannah Watson and Anthony Mezacapa rallied the troops for the crucial third set. To ensure the victory 25-22, Carli Derda tallied a kill, followed by a pair of Hilltopper errors, in what was a back and forth third set. Again, needing a win to stay alive, the Falcons turned to Grace Smotek and Kelsie Palmer to record back-to-back kills to nail home the fourth, 25-22. Looking to mount the comeback from down two sets to none, the Falcons jumped out to an early 9-5 lead in the final set. WLU would rattle off nine of the next 11 points to force match point, 11-14. Refusing to give in, the Notre Dame squad rallied once more by claiming seven of the final nine points in the match to win set five 18-16 and complete the comeback. This is a season defining victory for Notre Dame College as the team showed grit and fight from every player on the court to overcome the adversity on the road, down two sets to none. For Watson and Mezacapa, it is their 10^th career victory and first during MEC play.
 
Behind the instant classic put on by the Falcons, and leading the attack was once again Palmer who ties a season-high and posts a team-high 16 kills on the night. Brittany Miller also posts a season-high 11 kills to go along with Smotek (11), Blaire Barr (9), Derda (8), Katie Richardson (5), Samantha Comer (3) and McKenzie Andrix (1) who all aided the Falcons offense. Notre Dame was able to generate 242 total attacks, which is second most in program history. In addition, Andrix and Jayme Zoeckler tag teamed the assisting department by tallying 28 and 25 assists respectively en route to posting 64 total assists as a team, a new program record.
 
On defense, the Falcons registered 125 total digs which is the third most total digs in a match in program history. Thanks in part to Amelia Kaeberlein who posted 37 digs, she is back in the Falcon line-up as if she didn't miss a beat. The senior libero's match-high 37 digs is tied for third most in program history. Smotek (21), Zoeckler (18), Kiley Kalina (18) and Andrix (10) were the other Falcons to record double-digit digs. Moreover, at the net, Derda blocked a team-high four Hilltopper attacks, followed by Richardson (3), Palmer (2.5), Miller (0.5), Barr (0.5) and Comer (0.5) all with blocks on the night.
 
In total, Notre Dame had 64 kills on 242 total attacks. The Falcons had 64 assists, six service aces, ten blocks and 125 digs. In contrast, West Liberty had 60 kills on 242 total attack, with 60 assists, six service aces, 14 blocks and 120 digs.
 
There is no time for a breather, as Notre Dame College volleyball will be back and full of action on Friday Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. for the Falcons first home match of the season, when former Head Coach Travis Hinkle and the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons return to Murphy Gymnasium for a Falcon vs. Falcon showdown. NDC will also play on Saturday Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. when the Falcons host Frostburg State at home.