ND completed the 2023 ACC season with a 5-13 conference record, identical to the 2022 season. The team remained in the bottom tier of the ACC. At one point, their ACC record was 4-4 as they prepared to play lowly VA Tech. However, grad transfer setter Nicole Drewnick missed that match as the Irish lost 3-2 and the team won only one of their final ten matches. Here are a few observations from the matches I saw:
1. The team lost matches because the front row players were defeated at the net more often than not. Junior transfer Sydney Palazollo earned second team ACC honors and lead the team in most attacking statistics. She was talented enough to play back row as well as front row and that versatility made her an especially valuable addition.
2. I don't know enough about volleyball to judge the setter. Drewnick seemed to be a good leader, but the team results were not impressive. She has signed to play professionally overseas. The 2022 setter, Phyona Schrader, was moved to the front row to provide some needed help there.
3. The back row, led by libero Hattie Monson, competed well and seemed to be capable of playing at the middle tier level of the conference.
4. The Irish did better in their non-conference schedule this year with a 6-2 record. The two losses were to lower tier teams from the Big Twelve and West Coast conferences. Their best win was probably over Illinois, a middle of the pack team in the Big Ten.
5. Attendance improved this season to the highest level since 2007, now the team needs to improve to build on that measure of success.
Coach Rockwell will enter her third season in 2024 and this should be a key season as her first true recruiting class arrives (most Power Five volleyball recruits commit two years before they arrive on campus.) Here are few notes on the outlook for 2024:
1. The 2024 freshman class consists of four front row players and is ranked 13th overall by Prepdig, 2nd among ACC teams. If two of the four can make major contributions, then the team will have improved significantly in their area of major weakness.
2. The return of Palazollo and Monson will give the team a solid foundation to build upon.
3. I don't know what Coach Rockwell will do about the setter position because she never seems to be interviewed. Perhaps Schrader will return to setting or perhaps the often injured Harmony Sample will be ready to play. Oddly, there hasn't been a press release from the November signing period, even with a class worth bragging about.
4. The additions of Cal, SMU, and especially Stanford will make the conference tougher next season. In 2023, Pitt beat Louisville in the Elite Eight to advance to the Final Four, joining Wisconsin, Nebraska, and eventual champion, Texas.
5. Making it to the middle tier of the 18 team conference next season would be a good accomplishment. From what I have been able to discover, ND has three good recruits for 2025, so Coach Rockwell's program might be ready to begin its ascent.