Notre Dame Sweeps Women's Volleyball At UOP Tourney

Nov. 26, 1999

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Notre Dame claimed its 20th win of the season with a 15-10, 15-4, 15-6, sweep of Washington State University in the first match of the Pacific Community Bankers Classic Tournament at the A. G. Spanos Center Friday night.

WSU's Adrian Hankoff and Notre Dame's Christi Girton had 10 kills each. Mary Leffers had 8 blocks and 10 digs for the Irish who hit .356 for the match. Hankoff also led the Cougs with 11 digs while Holly Harris had three blocks and LaToya Harris led with four service aces. ND out-blocked WSU 10 to 4.

The Cougars drop to 13-14 overall while Notre Dame, fighting for an NCAA at-large bid after losing the Big East Conference automatic bid last week, is now 20-7.

Notre Dame took a 13-7 lead and extended it to a 15-10 win in the opening game behind the strong front line of Kristy Kreher and Girton who had five kills each, and the four kills and four blocks from Leffers. Hankoff had six kills for WSU while LaToya Harris contributed five kills but the Cougs hit only .159 to ND's .400.

The Cougars committed six hitting errors while only nailing five kills in 32 attacks (-.031), as the Irish ran away with a 15-4 game two win. Notre Dame hit .379 for the game.

WSU showed some spark in the third game, tying it up at five on Joy Sperry's service ace. But the more-seasoned Notre Dame squad made a 10-1 run for the 15-6 game win and a sweep of the match.

"I would have to say this was my most disappointing loss of the season and one of my most disappointing losses as a Cougar coach simply because we played with no enthusiasm and no spirit or fire out there whatsoever," Cindy Fredrick said. "They flat out took it to us and Notre Dame knew that they had to win this match and they went out and did it and we just sat back and took everything they gave us. I thought we'd play well tonight but came up against a huge block which is tough to hit against. We just have to get more out of our middles so we can play up our outside hitters and that's not happening."

Washington State completes its 1999 season against the loser of the Pacific - Sacramento State match in the consolation match Saturday night.

Notre Dame (20-7) d. Washington State (13-14) 3-0

Game scores:  15-10, 15-4, 15-6
STATISTICS:  KILLS:  Hankoff (WSU) 10, Girton (ND) 10.  
ASSISTS:  Wright
(WSU) 26, Boylan (ND) 33. 
 DIGS:  Hankoff (WSU) 11, Leffers (Cal) 10.

BLOCKS:  H. Harris (WSU) 3, Leffler (ND) 8. 
 SERVICE ACES:  L. Harris
(WSU) 4, Boylan (ND) 4.
  Attendance:  750.

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