This Week: The Notre Dame College volleyball team heads to the Atlantic Region Crossover in West Liberty, W.Va. on Friday and Saturday Sept. 15-16. The Falcons will play Clarion and Slippery Rock on Friday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. On Saturday, NDC will wrap up with Pitt-Johnstown and Shippensburg in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
 
Records: NDC begins the week at 1-3. CU maintains a record of 7-1, as SRU is 6-2, UPJ is 6-1 and SU sits at 6-2.
 
Coaches Corner: Erica Kostelac takes over the Notre Dame College volleyball program in her first season as head coach. Jennifer Herron is in her 17^th year at the helm of Clarion, carrying a 365-160 record. Laurie Lokash begins her 40^th season with Slippery Rock, maintaining a 668-628 career record. Justin Haupt is in his first season as head coach of Pitt-Johnstown after being the program's interim last year. Leanne Piscotty leads the Shippensburg volleyball team in her 20^th season, amassing a career mark of 403-240.
 
Rankings: Clarion is currently receiving 16 votes to be ranked amongst the top 25 in the nation according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) week two poll.
 
Series History: Notre Dame is 0-4 all-time when facing Clarion, dating back to their first meeting in 2013 and including the Golden Eagles four-set victory last season. NDC is 3-2 all-time when facing Slippery Rock, dating back to their first meeting in 2017 and including the Rock's five-set win a year ago. The Falcons are 0-2 all-time when playing Pitt-Johnstown, dating back to their first meeting in 2012 and including their most recent matchup in 2015. Lastly, Notre Dame is 0-3 all-time when facing Shippensburg, dating back to their first in 2017 and including the Raider's five-set win in 2022.
 
Noting the NDC Falcons: Last week, Notre Dame kicked off the 2023 season at the UIndy Tournament by going 1-3. The Falcons defeated Central State in straight sets, despite losses to UIndy (3-0), Northwood (3-1) and Florida Southern (3-0).
 
Freshman Sydney Bray leads Notre Dame College offensively in kills (53), kills per set (4.08), points (61), points per set (4.6). The Etowah High School product ranks 21^st in the country in kills per set. The freshman is joined by fellow freshman Lilliana Mook (27) and senior Kelsie Palmer (20) as other Falcons to record 20 or more kills this year.
 
Junior Jayme Zoeckle serves up the Falcon attack with a team-high 107 assists at 8.23 assists per set.
 
Defensively, junior libero Kiley Kalina anchors the squad with a team-high 56 digs at 4.31 digs per set. Kalina is joined by Bray (33), Zoeckler (30) and junior Grace Smotek (25) as Falcons with 20 or more digs.
 
At the net, Bray (10) and Palmer (9) lead the charge, posting clips of 0.77 and 0.69 blocks per set.
 
As a team, Notre Dame flashes 10.0 kills per set (.080 attack percentage), 9.3 assists per set, 1.5 aces per set, 15.2 digs per set and 1.6 blocks per set.
 
Noting the Golden Eagles: Last week, Clarion tallied a 3-1 record at the Grand Rapids Downtown Classic with wins over Davenport in five, Tiffin in four and Ursuline in three, alonside a loss to Grand Valley State in straight sets.
 
Cassidy Snider is the clear leader on offense for Clarion, ranking 16^th in the country in kills per set (4.23), as she posts team highs in kills (127) and attack percentage (.330). She is joined by Charlie Allison (63) and Julia Piccolino (55) as other Golden Eagles north of 50 kills on the year.
 
London Fuller sets up the attack with 310 assists on the season, ranking 24^th in the country in assists per set (10.33).
 
Defensively, Abigail Selfridge totals a team-high 98 digs at 3.27 digs per set, as she is aided by Fuller (78) and Snider (66). At the net, Finley Kearney is a player to watch, generating 23 blocks at 1.1 blocks per set.
 
As unit, Clarion averages 12.4 kills per set (.218 attack percentage), 11.3 assists per set, 1.9 aces per set, 13.0 digs per set and 1.8 blocks per set.
 
Noting the Rock: Last week, Slippery Rock competed at the Hall of Fame City Challenge, finishing with a record of 3-1. The Rock fell to Walsh in four sets, before rebounding to defeat Roberts Wesleyan in four, Frostburg State in four and Malone in three.
 
Slippery Rock is powered by a one-two combo on offense in Erica Selfridge and Callie Chevalier who lead the team in kills with 76 and 74, respectively. The duo is joined by setters Jaeden Yost (180) and Peytan Gullickson (97) handling the assisting duties.
 
Defensively, Kate Lachendro and Selfridge are the only players on the team with more than 100 digs, clocking in at 147 and 122, respectively. Lauren VonderHaar is a force at the net, posting 35 blocks at 1.30 blocks per set, ranking 14^th in the nation.
 
As a whole, SRU manages 13.0 kills per set (.214 attack percentage), 11.8 assists per set, 1.8 aces per set, 18.2 digs per set and 2.1 blocks per set.
 
Noting the Mountain Cats: Last week, Pitt-Johnstown cruised through the West Chester Tournament, producing three straight set victories over West Chester, West Virginia Wesleyan and Felician to go 3-0.
 
Lualis Alvarado paces the squad with 77 kills at 3.35 kills per set. Brooke Pelloni (60), Mallory Pinske (52) and Natalie Lippincott (45) add offensive firepower, as Pinke is dangerous with a team-high .358 attack percentage. The offense is set up by Adiamar Beaz with 240 assists at 10.0 assists per set.
 
Gabi DeRenzo is the defensive anchor for the Mountain Cats grabbing 115 digs at 4.79 digs per set. Beaz and Alvarado offer support with 75 and 70 digs, respectively.
 
As a squad, Pitt-Johnstown tallies 12.0 kills per set (.171 attack percentage), 11.2 assists per set, 2.7 aces per set, 17.6 digs per set and 1.2 blocks per set.
 
Noting the Raiders: Shippensburg sailed through the Chowan Tournament last week, surrendering just one set on their way to 4-0. SU dismantled Chowan, Elizabeth City State and Catawba in straight sets, before besting Lincoln Memorial in four.
 
The Raiders deploy an ultra-balanced offensive attack with Emily Gardner (65), Maddie Clabaugh (64) and Gracen Nutt (62) leading the way in kills. Kearstin Davis is tasked with serving up the attack tallying 240 assists at 8.57 assists per set.
 
Shay Kolivoski (98) and Davis (85) tag team the defensive work by leading the team in digs at clips of 3.50 and 3.04 digs per set, respectively. Kaitlyn Townsend (21) and Hailey Cappleman flash a threat at the net by pacing SU in blocks.
 
Shippensburg averages 11.4 kills per set (.156 attack percentage), 10.5 assists pet set, 1.8 aces per set, 15.3 digs per set and 1.6 blocks per set.