SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Trailing 15-10 in the first set, Notre Dame College (13-18, 7-8 MEC) co-head coaches Riley Coleman and Kathleen Egan turned to their bench and called upon sophomore Jayme Zoeckler. The Trinity High School product lit a fire under the Falcons, with four of her career-high and record-breaking seven service aces in rapid succession at the end of the first set. NDC would go on to win the match in straight sets, sweeping the season series against Frostburg State University (16-15, 4-11 MEC), without dropping a set.
 
"Coach Riley always gives us the most perfect spots. When we follow what she tells us, we always get aces. I'm just happy that our coaches are always there for us," said Zoeckler with a smile.
 
Zoeckler's seven aces, marks the most by an NDC Falcon in a three-set match in program history, and it is tied for the second-most service aces in any match in school history. The Sagamore Hills, Ohio native generated the most aces since Morgan Toman's seven-ace performance back on Sept. 16, 2016 vs. Ohio Valley.
 
"When I came into the game, I knew we needed someone to be loud and someone to be calm," mentioned Zoeckler. "I just wanted to do everything I could and every time I was at the service line, I kept telling myself, 'I am going to get an ace right here,' So that was my way to help them in that moment. Just trying my best."
 
At the beginning of the match, FSU slowly worked their way to a 15-10 lead. The Falcons led 6-5, before the Bobcats claimed six of the next seven points, to move ahead 11-7 and eventually, 15-10. Next, Notre Dame pulled within one-point, 18-17, following a 7-3 run. Prior to serving out the set, Zoeckler generated a kill to bring NDC within one. With Frostburg State leading 20-17 Notre Dame dug deep and posted an 8-1 run on the back of Zoeckler's four aces, including three in a row, polishing off the frame 25-21.
 
With both sides battling to start set two, NDC opened up a 14-4 as freshman Ryleigh Ronald, sophomore Samantha Comer and senior Carli Derda each tallied a pair of kills during the run (20-12). The Falcons would close out the second stanza after a Bobcat attack error, 25-16.
 
Notre Dame gained an early 10-4 lead in the final set after Zoeckler's serve continued to wreak havoc on the FSU defense. However, Frostburg State clawed their way back into the contest, making it a one-point NDC advantage, 17-16, following an 8-2 run. A back and forth stalemate would ensue until NDC posted match-point at 24-21. The Bobcats fended off six match points, before the Falcons finished the deal, 29-27.
 
Offensively, Notre Dame was led by a balanced attack with Comer, Derda and senior Blaire Barr each tallying 10 kills apiece. Derda flashed an impressive and efficient .563 hit percentage on the night.
 
Along with serving well, Zoeckler totaled a game-high 37 assists in the match.
 
On defense, sophomore libero Kiley Kalina posted a game-high 20 digs, along with fellow sophomores Grace Smotek and Lucy Smith at 13 and 11, respectively.
 
In comparing the two sides, Notre Dame flashed 44 kills on a .252 hit percentage, to go with 44 assists, 68 digs, five blocks and 10 aces. Frostburg State showed 41 kills on a .197 hit percentage, to go with 40 assists, 58 digs, six blocks and four aces.
 
As a unit, the Falcons performance of 10 aces is tied for the sixth-most in a three-set match in program history.
 
The Notre Dame College volleyball team will be back in action on Friday Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. for Senior Night and to close out the 2022 regular season against Alderson Broaddus University in Murphy Gymnasium.