NDC digs in with a split
One up, one down in tourney play

DEARBORN, Mich. – Notre Dame split a pair of close matches Saturday in the Earlybird Tournament, hosted by the University of Michigan-Dearborn.  The Falcons were clipped by Cornerstone (MI), 3-2 in their morning match before rallying with a 3-1 win over St. Xavier (IL) in the afternoon.  The two matches closed out NDC’s participation in the two-day, four-match event in Dearborn.  Overall, 17 college teams competed at the Earlybird Tournament.

Cornerstone defeated Notre Dame, 3-2 (25-19, 23-25, 19-25, 25-19, 18-16) in the Falcons’ first match.  NDC downed the St. Xavier Cougars by scores of 27-29, 25-15, 25-23, and 25-18 in the nightcap.

Notre Dame (2-2) will continue their season with another tournament next weekend in Clarion, Pa.  NDC will take on Davis & Elkins (WV), Clarion (PA), Tiffin, and Holy Family (PA) in four matches over Friday and Saturday (Aug. 29-30).

The Earlybird Classic kicked off a 32-match regular season for the Falcons, which went 21-14 a year ago, earning an American Mideast Conference North Division championship and a berth in the NAIA Eastern Great Lakes Regional Tournament.

NOTES FROM THE NEST…

MEET THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Cornerstone University is located in Grand Rapids, Mich.  The Golden Eagles, an NAIA squad that competes in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, went 38-6 a year ago. … Saturday’s match marked the second-ever between CU and NDC.  The Golden Eagles defeated the Falcons, 3-0, back in 2003.

MEET THE COUGARS: St. Xavier University is located in Chicago, Ill.  The Cougars are an NAIA program that competes in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.  SXU went 31-14 in 2007. … Saturday’s match marked the first between the Cougars and Falcons.