Box Score SCRANTON, Pa. – The Notre Dame volleyball team traveled to the first round of the Colonial States Athletic Conference Playoffs where they faced the Marywood University Pacers for the second consecutive season.  The Gators proved relentless in their victory, coming from two-sets down to take the match in five, 3-2. 

The Gators opened the first set trading points with the Pacers and 5-2 run saw the team down, 7-4.  Notre Dame chipped away at the Marywood lead to get the game back to even at 10 apiece.  After trading points again in the set, Marywood took a 14-12 lead and did not let go.  After several short runs by Marywood, they took the first set, 25-19. 

In the second set, the Pacers held the momentum jumping out to a 5-2 lead.  A kill by freshman Sarah Sweet and a two-point serve run by freshman Hannah Amodia helped the Gators get back to even with the Pacers.  Later in the game, now down one to the Pacers, Gators let Marywood go on a 6-1 tear to put them in a 16-10 hole.  A late surge in the set was too late for Notre Dame as they fell again, 25-19.

Notre Dame, now down two sets, had to mount a comeback to keep their season alive.  After being even through 13 points in the third set, Marywood used two kills and three aces to take an 18-13 lead over Notre Dame.  After trading points, Sweet went on a serving run to help regain the momentum for the Gators.  She served six-straight points, including three aces to give Notre Dame a 21-19 lead.  After giving Marywood back the serve, they used the sideout and a kill to get the game tied at 21 apiece.  A kill by sophomore Kayleigh Davis gave Notre Dame the sideout and senior Bobbi McDowell served the team to victory, 25-21.

Set four was a set of many runs for both squads. Marywood was the first team to strike taking a 9-5 lead over the Gators early.  Notre Dame started to chip away at the four-point lead to get the score back to even at 11 apiece.  Next, the Gators took a four-point run to go up 17-13 over the Pacers.  With Notre Dame holding a 19-15 lead over Marywood, the Pacers went on a 7-1 run to take back the lead 22-20, but Notre Dame still had fight left.  A trio of kills by Sweet and one from senior Jamie Reyes, the Gators regained their lead, now up 24-23.  The Gators then gave up back-to-back points, now forced to defend match point, 25-24. 

Into extra points, an attacking error by Marywood help even the score at 25 apiece.  The Gators were forced to defend match point two more times after trading points with the Pacers.  With the score now tied at 28 apiece, Notre Dame finished the set off, from back-to-back kills by Sweet and Davis.  Notre Dame claimed the fourth set, 30-28, forcing a fifth set. 

After scoring the first two points of the final set, Notre Dame gave up a three-point run to Marywood, now down 3-2 in the game to 15 points.  After regaining the lead, off a hitting error by the Pacers and a quick ace by Sweet, the Gators did not look back.  With Notre Dame holding a one-point lead, 11-10, the Gators held the Pacers scoreless for the rest of the match.  Davis went on a serve run to close the match, Gators win, 15-10.

Sweet paced the team at the net recording 23 kills in the match, while Davis and freshman Michaila Sheedy combined for 24.  The Gators held tough defensively at the net posting five blocks and several touches to help slow down the Marywood offense.  On the defensive end, four players posted double-figure digs, led by sophomore libero, Mary Marquez with 22.  Right behind Marquez was Reyes with 18 digs, while also finishing the match with 39 assists.  From the service line, the Gators posted 10 aces, led by Sweet with six.  This is their 20^th match this season posting 10 or more aces.

The victory today is now their second consecutive victory in the CSAC playoffs.  Last season the Gators also won in five set over Marywood as the lower seed.  Notre Dame will now travel to #1 Cabrini University for the second round of the playoffs on Thursday.  Match is scheduled for a 8:00 p.m. start time.