Volleyball prepares for road trip to South Bend

Less than one year ago, with just two Big East games left, the Notre Dame women’s volleyball… Less than one year ago, with just two Big East games left, the Notre Dame women’s volleyball team was in the driver’s seat on the road toward a Big East title. However, in the last game of the season, the Irish came to the Fitzgerald Field House and were upset by the Panthers, 3-2, and were beaten again by the Panthers, 3-0, just a week later in the Big East Tournament final.

Friday marks the Irish’s chance for revenge.

With both teams tied atop the Big East standings with the Syracuse Orange, Friday’s match in South Bend, Ind., will eliminate one team from title competition.

The Irish (14-7, 7-1) are coming off their first conference loss of the season at the hands of the Boston College Eagles, who swept the Irish, 3-0, in South Bend on Sunday. The Panthers (19-6, 7-1) suffered their first conference loss of the season against Rutgers last Friday before rebounding to beat Seton Hall Sunday.

“We are in the same situation that we were last year,” Pitt head coach Chris Beerman said. “If we win two this weekend, we would win the regular season championship. Last year we felt great about just being in the championship, but this year we are hungry for the trophy.”

Injuries have been a problem for both teams. Pitt has been without last year’s Big East Tournament MVP and this year’s preseason Big East Player of the Year, Megan Miller, who is second in the conference in hitting percentage (.364), third in kills (4.6 per game) and second in points (5.31 per game). According to Beerman, Miller is day-to-day and will be a game-time decision, making the Panthers’ road to a title defense even tougher.

“It couldn’t be any harder, especially with Megan’s situation,” Beerman said. “But once you have that trophy, you aren’t going to give it way.

The Irish could be without outside hitter Lauren Kelbley, who leads the Irish in kills with 3.62 per contest. Kelbley’s abilities were missed by the Irish in the loss to the Eagles, and she is day-to-day for the match against the Panthers.

“Lauren is one of our main offensive weapons,” Irish head coach Debbie Brown said. “Her net play is very, very strong. We did miss that for sure against BC, but it was more than certainly her just being on the floor.”

The match will also feature two of the conference’s best liberos in the Panthers’ Megan McGrane and the Irish’s Meg Henican. McGrane ranks fifth nationally and first in the conference with an average of 6.30 digs per game and is considered one of the nation’s premiere players at the position. Henican ranks fourth in the conference in digs, averaging 4.54 digs per game and is only the second Libero to ever win Big East Player of the Week. McGrane insists the match is no more important than any other.

“Each match in the Big East means the same, because you only play each team once,” McGrane said. “When two teams are at the top of the conference, of course it’s going to be an important match, but at the same time you have to be equally excited for each match.”

Despite beating the Irish twice a year ago and winning the Big East title, the Panthers were picked to finish second in the conference, behind the Irish.

“They were picked in the preseason to be No. 1 even though we are the defending champs,” Beerman said. “They get a lot of respect, but this is a big game and we are a big-game team.”

Last year’s loss in the Big East final marked the first time Notre Dame lost to a Big East team at home.

“Since 1984, they have lost one game at home in the conference regular season,” Beerman said. “They expect to win the Big East every year. I expect them to be a little bit more focused this time.”

Friday’s match is set to begin at 4 p.m. inside the Joyce Center.