Tourney trouble
Falcons clipped in Puma Invite twin bill

RENSSELAER, Ind. - Notre Dame ran into two tough NCAA-II opponents in their 2007 season debut Friday. The Falcons dropped two matches in day one of the Puma Invitational hosted by Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind.

NDC lost their opening match to Quincy (IL) by a score of 3-0. The Falcons were swept by the Lady Hawks, 30-21, 30-15, 30-28.

The Royal & Gold then lost to Wisconsin-Parkside by a 3-0 final. In the nightcap, NDC was bested by scores of 30-20, 32-30, and 30-24 - all of which came against a talented Rangers' squad.

"I'm proud of the way the girls played, especially in the second match," said Head Coach Mark Ridley, who enters his fifth season at the helm of Falcons Volleyball. "They battled a tough team in UW-Parkside."

Notre Dame (0-2) is slated to face Kentucky State and St. Joseph's (IN) in day-two of the six-team invitational.

Notes from the Nest...

411 on day 001: NDC's day-one opponents, Quincy U. and UW-Parkside, both compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (NCAA-II).

Dig this: Libero/outside hitter Debbie Beatty (Sr/Massillon, OH) begins the 2007 season in 10th place on the Falcons' all-time list for games played. The NDC veteran played in 343 games over the last three years (2004-06). As Beatty climbs that list, she'll also be making an assault on the NDC record for career digs currently held by Angela Serpetti, with 1,871. Beatty comes into the '07 campaign with 1,766 career digs.

Uh-oh (and two): The pair of losses Friday gives NDC an 0-2 record to start the season for a second straight year. A year ago, the Falcons rallied from an 0-2 start and rattled off three consecutive wins.