Irish finish 9-0 in Big East with win over Orangewomen
By MATT OLIVA
Sports Writer
The Notre Dame volleyball team defeated Syracuse in three games this weekend to conclude its 1999 home season.
With the victory, the Irish remain undefeated in the Big East at 9-0, while their season record improves to 16-6. The Irish have two more matches to play this year, both against Big East teams this coming weekend.
Saturday afternoon the Irish defeated Syracuse 15-4, 15-13, 15-11. In game one, the Irish were able to easily beat the Orangewomen by outhitting them 31.3 percent to 5.3 percent. In the second game, Syracuse did not go away as easily.
Syracuse forced Notre Dame into four game points before the Irish were able to come away with the win.
Game three was just as tight as the two teams were tied four separate times. The Irish were able to take the lead for good at 8-7 on consecutive kills by Marcie Bomhack. Mary Leffers and Jo Jameyson contributed kills for the Irish as they defeated Syracuse in the third game 15-11 to win the match.
Christi Girton finished the match with 19 kills and 13 digs, to post her third consecutive double-double match. Bomhack recorded 10 kills and a career-best four aces, while Leffers contributed an all-around performance. She finished with eight kills, nine digs and six blocks.
Dana Fiume's 18 kills led Syracuse, while senior Rachel Watson added 11 digs to lead Syracuse defensively.
Girton was also named the Big East player of the Week, after her performances against Illinois State and Syracuse. In both matches the junior totaled 19 kills, while adding 14 digs against the Redbirds and 13 digs against the Orangewomen. She also extended her streak of consecutive matches with at least 10 kills to six.
At week's end, Girton had a .439 hitting average, with 5.43 kills per game and 3.86 digs per game. She joins senior Leffers as the only Irish players to receive the award this year. Leffers has received it three times so far.
Notre Dame will travel east this coming weekend to take on Big East opponents Villanova on Saturday and Georgetown on Sunday. The two matches will conclude the regular season conference play. Notre Dame may need a win over Georgetown, which currently in second place in the Big East with only one loss, to wrap up sole possession of the team's fourth Big East regular season crown and the tournament's top seed.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, November 9, 1999
