This Week: The Notre Dame College volleyball team returns to Murphy Gymnasium for a full week of home matches. First, the Falcons will host Salem University in a non-conference affair on Tuesday Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. Next, NDC welcomes Glenville State University into town on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Lastly, Notre Dame will match up with Concord University on Saturday Oct. 14 at 1 p.m.
 
Records: NDC begins the week at 3-10 (2-3 MEC) and in fourth place in the Mountain East Conference North Division. Salem sports a 5-11 record overall. GSU sits at 7-10 (2-3 MEC) and fourth place in the MEC South Division. CU holds a 12-5 (3-2 MEC) record to be in third place in the MEC South Division.
 
Coaches Corner: Erica Kostelac takes over the Notre Dame College volleyball program in her first season as head coach. Matt Carpenter is the head coach of Salem. Kiara Perkins is in her first season with Glenville State, while Kate Dillon leads Concord in her 15^th season with a career record of 71-144.
 
Rankings: None of these teams are ranked according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.
 
Series History: The Falcons maintain a perfect 5-0 record without dropping a single set against Salem, dating back to their first meeting in 2017, and including the most recent contest in 2019. Notre Dame is 9-1 all-time when facing Glenville State, dating back to their first meeting in 2011 and including NDC's five-set victory last season. Since 2011, Notre Dame is 6-3 all-time when up against Concord, including NDC's most recent four-set win on the road last season.
 
Noting the Falcons: Notre Dame is coming off a tough road stretch which featured a five-set loss at Fairmont State on Tuesday, followed by a straight set defeat at Wheeling on Friday. Despite, the losses freshman Sydney Bray continues to dazzle, as the Woodstock Ga. native totaled 47 kills over the two matches, including setting the NDC program record with 23 kills in a three-set match. The Etowah High School product added 16 and 10 digs respectively over the week, to post a pair of double-double performances.
 
On the year, Bray is fuel to the Notre Dame College offense, posting a team-high 202 kills at 4.12 kills per set, ranking second in the MEC and 22^nd nationally. In addition, Bray leads the MEC and is 17^th in the country by producing 4.76 points per set. The freshman adds a .269 attack percentage (team-high) and 14 service aces (2^nd on team).
 
Junior Samantha Comer offers support with 117 kills at 3.25 kills per set, ranking eighth in the MEC.
 
 Junior Jayme Zoeckler facilitates the Falcon offense with 458 assists at 9.35 assists per set, ranking second in the MEC. The Trinity High School product ranks seventh in NDC program history with 1,700 career dimes. In addition, Zoeckler is the team leader in aces with 24, ranking third in the MEC with 0.49 aces per set.
 
Defensively, junior Kiley Kalina (194) is joined by Bray (143) and Zoeckler (116) as Falcons north of 100 digs on the year. Kalina ranks eighth in the MEC with 4.04 in digs per set. At the net, senior Kelsie Palmer (30), Bray (27) and Baker (22) each boast more than blocks.
 
As a team, Notre Dame generates 11.5 kills per set on a .149 attack percentage, to go with 10.8 assists per set, 1.4 aces per set, 15.5 digs per set and 1.6 blocks per set.
 
Noting the Tigers: Last week, Salem went 1-2, beginning with a straight set loss to West Liberty on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Tigers bounced back for five-set victory over Carlow. On Friday, SU fell once again in straight sets.
 
Salem is paced by the trio of Valentia Poti (145), Noemi Combi (138) and Nakyia Middleton (113) on offense as the only players with more than 100 kills on the year. McKenzie Clyncke is the primary setter for SU, owning 262 assists at 4.85 assists per set.
 
Defensively, Salem is anchored by Alayna Cox with 236 digs at 4.37 digs per set. Poti (123), Clyncke (96) and Mikaela McEvoy (94) also add support to the Tiger back line. At the net, Middleton boasts 43 blocks at 0.80 blocks per set.
 
As a whole, Salem averages 9.9 kills per set on a .107 attack percentage, to go with 7.6 assists per set, 1.8 aces per set, 14.4 digs per set and 1.8 blocks per set.
 
Noting the Pioneers: Last week, Glenville State fell during a pair of home contests, first with a straight set loss to West Virginia State on Tuesday. On Friday, the Pioneers stole the first set 25-23, before surrendering to Charleston in four.
 
Katarzyna Niderla (143) and Rita Kelly (128) are the one-two punch for Glenville State on offense, owning 2.55 and 2.29 kills per set, respectively. Niderla ranks third in the MEC with an efficient .349 attack percentage.
 
Sarah Grainger sets up the Pioneer attack with 453 assists at 7.61 assists per set, ranking seventh in the MEC. In addition, Grainger paces the team and the conference in service aces with 36, as she ranks tied for third in the country with 0.67 aces per set.
 
Defensively, four Pioneers hold up the back line with over 100 digs in Lindsay Winkler (191), Syndey Goodrich (151), Grainger (144) and Morgan Stephenson (132). At the net, Niderla posts a significant threat with 70 blocks, at 1.25 blocks per set, tops in the conference and tied 14^th in the country.
 
As a unit, Glenville State records 10.0 kills per set on a .161 attack percentage, to go along with 9.0 assists per set, 1.8 aces per set, 14.9 digs per set and 2.1 blocks per set.
 
Noting the Mountain Lions: Last week, Concord went 2-0 with wins over WV Wesleyan and Davis & Elkins. On Tuesday, the Mountain Lions downed the Bobcats in four sets, before turning around to sweep the Senators in straight sets on Friday.
 
Meg Williams is the heart and soul to the Concord offense, boasting 265 kills at 4.27 kills per set, ranking number one in the MEC and 17^th in NCAA Division II. Chloe Thompson (190) and Kyndra Pilant (104) add offensive support, as Thompson ranks seventh in the MEC with 3.31 kills per set.
 
Concord splits the setting duties as Paige Richmond is the team leader with 358 assists at 5.77 assists per set. Declyn Tooze also facilitates for CU with 269 assists at 4.34 per set.
 
Defensively, Allie Davis owns 271 digs at 4.37 digs per set, ranking fifth in the league, while Thompson (153), Williams (142) and Tooze (115) also contribute north of 100 digs. At the net, Pilant is seated sixth in the MEC with 0.90 blocks per set.
 
As a team, Concord averages 12.0 kills per set on a .199 attack percentage, to go with 11.3 assists per set, 1.3 aces per set, 15.1 digs per set and 1.7 blocks per set.