Close game in Daemen

Leslie Rodriguez lead the team with 15 kills against Daemen (NY)

NDC rallies for 3-2 win over Wildcats

AMHERST, New York – Notre Dame rallied to defeat Daemen on the road Saturday by a final of 3-2. The Falcon's climbed back in the match to win the final two games after having been down two games to one. Three of the five games between the Falcons and Wildcats were decided by two points; both squads battled to split two close games to start the match, and NDC won 15-13 in the fifth and deciding game. The final scores were 33-35, 31-29, 24-30, 30-23, 15-13.

The win for Notre Dame (16-11, 8-1 AMC-N) keeps the Falcons atop the North Division standings in the American Mideast Conference (AMC) with two weeks, and five AMC North matches, remaining in the regular season. With a 16-11 mark, the Blue & Gold have an opportunity over those two weeks to post new program records for both wins in a season and single-season winning percentage. Nineteen wins in a season is the falcons' program record.

Leslie Rodriguez (Sr/Pecos, TX) and Holli Reyna (Sr/Amarillo, TX) led the NDC frontline Saturday, with 15 and 14 kills, respectively. Reyna also collected 32 digs. AMC-leader Debbie Beatty (Sr/Massillon, OH) stuffed the stat sheet with 37 digs. Beatty leads the AMC and is ranked 11th in the nation, with 6.8 digs per game.

The Falcons' final two weeks of the regular season kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 23, with a road match at Malone. Tuesday's action is slated to begin at 7:00pm.

Notes from the Nest...

Aces high: Katie Barbis (Fr/Mentor, OH) notched four service aces Saturday. Barbis has 15 aces on the season. Holli Reyna leads the team with 28.

Hit parade: Leslie Rodriguez hit .324 against Daemen. The senior swatter is now hitting an even .250 for the season after struggling in Aug. and Sep. Reyna has hit .250 or better in seven of her last last nine matches. As a team, the Falcons rank sixth in the 15-team AMC, with a .223 mark. Julia Szabo (.269) leads Notre Dame.