Back on the court
Falcons return to action with 1-1 split

DEARBORN, Mich. – Notre Dame Volleyball was back in action Friday, as the Falcons competed in day-one of the Earlybird Tournament.  NDC earned a split in the season debut, losing to Spring Arbor (MI) and then defeating Trinity International (IL). 

Spring Arbor beat Notre Dame by a 3-0 final; NDC topped Trinity by the same score.  Friday’s action marked the first day of NDC’s participation in the two-day, four-match event hosted by the University of Michigan-Dearborn.  Overall, 17 college teams are participating at the Earlybird Tournament.

In Notre Dame’s first match, Spring Arbor swept three games (25-18, 25-18, 25-20).  The Falcons rallied in the nightcap to earn a shutout of their own (25-22, 25-21, 25-17).

The weekend kicks 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.

Notre Dame (1-1) will face Cornerstone (MI) and St. Xavier (IL) on Saturday.

NOTES FROM THE NEST…

MEET THE COUGARS: Spring Arbor University is located in Spring Arbor, Mich.  The Cougars, an NAIA squad that competes in the Mid Central College Conference, went 9-28 a year ago. … Friday’s match was the first ever between Spring Arbor and Notre Dame.

MEET THE TROJANS: Trinity International University is located in Deerfield, Ill.  The Trojans are an NAIA program that competes in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.  TIU went 13-22 in 2007. … Friday marked the second meeting between TIU and NDC; Trinity beat Notre Dame, 3-0, back in 2003.