The Notre Dame Varsity Volleyball team attended the Beast of the East tournament last Saturday and came home with a 2-2 record in one of the most competitive tournaments in the state. The tournament featured no fewer than 16 state ranked teams.
The Irish started strong with a 25-19, 25-19 victory over Anchor Bay. Theresa Carrier led the team with nine kills while Aly Borellis and Sophia Sudzina each kicked in seven. Olivia Kowalkowski was again strong on defense with 15 digs and Josie Bloom finished right behind her with 12.
The Irish met up with Troy next and the results were much the same. After taking big leads in each of the games the Irish settled in for a 25-21, 25-22 win. Borellis put in another strong game with 10 kills and 11 digs, both team highs. Carrier added six kills and Sudzina had five kills to pace the Irish attack. Kowalkowski served up nine points, including three aces, and had 10 digs.
Notre Dame took on Lowell, ranked second in division one in the final match of pool play. The Irish defense could not keep pace against the Red Arrow's high powered offense and Notre Dame fell 25-15, 25-16. Sudzina led Notre Dame’s attack with nine kills and Borellis added seven. Bloom had a strong defensive game, picking up eight digs.
After finishing second in the pool, the Irish advanced to the gold bracket where they played the third ranked team in division one, Mattawan. Mattawan and their Miss Volleyball finalist Alli Wiese were too much the Irish as Notre Dame bowed out 25-18, 25-17. Borellis and Sudzina once again paces the offense with eight and seven kills respectively. Allison Berent had a team-high eight digs for the Irish.