set loss that we talked about below. Then the 4 setter at FSU. The two home loss sweeps to NC State and Wake were really deflating. For the 1st time Rockwell started to dink with the lineup and rotation by not starting senior Palozzola during the 3rd set of FSU after they had tied that match 1-1. She put Dockery in to start instead of Sydney who had started every one of the 55 sets for ND all season when ND's set record was 34-22. They have lost all 8 sets since where Sydney has started just half of those 8 sets. Not sure if something is off for her (injury, health) but it sure seems to have made a difference, at least in results.
I know Shrader, Bjork, and Gaerta are critical to the team/rotation but something changed when Sydney didn't start. The two shutouts are the only losses that they haven't even got a set and it was to weaker opponents than some of their earlier losses. Plus it was at home which should be an advantage. I watched replays of both and NC State they really never got close. Wake the 1st two sets were both in extra points where Wake won by just 2 but they really gave up in the last set to lose 25-12. Being swept like that to unranked foes, especially at home, is really unacceptable.
This weekend they go to Dallas then Pittsburgh and unless something changes drastically they are certainly going to get swept again. #1 Pitt has swept every team they played at home including Sunday when they shutout #5 Stanford. They have lost only 4 other sets all year despite playing 7 nationally ranked teams, 1 to BC in Boston in their 3-1 win and their only match loss was in Dallas, 3-2 to SMU. #12 SMU will be just as tough as they have beaten #2 Nebraska and #1 Pitt by giving each of them their only losses all season. ND will have their hands full to try to avoid having a losing record after this weekend.
In case you missed it and are interested, I did do a 1st hand early season analysis on Pitt when they swept the 11th ranked Ducks in Eugene (link).
worst attacking percentages of her ND career. Starting Dockery, a back row defensive specialist, instead of her was only for back row rotations. My guess is that whatever ailed her made it difficult for her to even try to play in the back row.
As you noted, ND is staring at four more losses over the next two weeks and is falling to the bottom tier of the ACC...
Come out strong in first Set but Pitt took control and dominates the rest of the set and beginning of Set 2 opening up a big lead. ND mounted a comeback at the end of Set 2 closing to with 3.
They carried that momentum into Set 3 and won, something that hasn't happened much to Pitt at home this season.
debacle but should have switched back but I knew they lost that 1st set 25-14.. I did watch the late 2nd set run live at the soccer match half time when ND got to down 23-20 and then lost the next to lose the 2nd set 25-20. Given Pitt's prowess only 2 teams have even got a set off them this year (BC in Chestnut Hill & SMU in Dallas) so that 25-22 3rd set win was un precedented this year. In fact I read the recap at FightingIrish.com and they said "This is the first regular season set loss that the Panthers have suffered at Fitzgerald Field House since Oct. 6, 2023 against No. 11 Georgia Tech". Hopefully it gives the women some confidence even though Pitt closed it out 25-19 to win the match 3-1.
I would love ND to get competitive again in VBall as this year as I am starting to really like the sport. Given the Ducks are in the Big 10 for the 1st time I decided to go all in watching VBall by getting Oregon season tix. I make most of the matches when in town even though its an hour drive each way. I often watch other matchs & replays on BTN+ who do a great job with condensed games and separate highlights focusing on each Big10 teams best player for each match. I saw a fun match vs Maryland Friday night and saw the Mimi Colyer highlights when I got home. I decided to watch the next home match (Rutgers) today live on BTN+ instead of making the drive down to Eugene. As for upcoming home matches, I am really looking forward to see Oregon vs #2 Nebraska in Eugene Thursday November 7 to see if Nebraska is as good as #1 Pitt who were incredible when they swept #10 Oregon in Eugene the 1st competition of the season August 30. Still the Ducks are actually the last team to beat Pittsburgh at Fitzgerald 3-2 back on Sept 14, 2023 as Oregon & Ga Tech were the only 2 teams to get any sets off Pitt last year. So for ND to get the 1st set win this year at Pitt was a very good result. Let's hope ND can make any more progress with their next 2 matches, back to back vs L'ville.
Pitt tied at 14-14 and then one of their bench players became unblockable scoring 3 straight Kills on the way to (I believe) a 19-14 lead. It mostly went back and forth until Pitt got the match point.
There were several very good rally through the match. Most went Pitt's way but ND was able to put a few of them away. Bjork had a good game.
Those 4 straight losses are likely to turn into 8 straight - hoping things can turn around
the 16 team reveal. Overall those were the only ACC teams (#2 Pitt, #4 L'Ville, #5 Stanford, & #7 SMU) while the Big 10 had 7 of the 16 (#1 Nebraska, #3 Penn State, #9 Wisconsin, #10 Oregon, #12 Purdue, #15 USC, & #16 Minnesota), The other 5 were 3 from the Big 12 (#11 Kansas, #13 Utah, #14 TCU), one from the Big East (#6 Creighton), and only 1 SEC school, newcomer #8 Texas. I guess when it comes to Volleyball it just doesn't mean more for the SEC.