SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Many Broncos saw career highs on a night where Santa Clara women's volleyball twice held a big lead in the final set, but were unable to come away with the statement victory at Notre Dame to open the season on Friday night at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind. The Broncos fought back after trailing 1-0, winning sets two and four to force a decisive fifth set, but despite an early lead were unable to hold on at the end. Their lineup featured a pretty balanced attack with three players posting double figures in kills led by Cate Shanahan with 13. Macy Hinshaw had a game high 40 assists, while Lexi Trapani led the Broncos with 22 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Notre Dame (1-0) scored the first five points to open the game, forcing a Santa Clara timeout. However, the Broncos fought back, scoring three in a row capped off by a kill from Morgan Hayes to cut the Irish lead to 8-6.
• Four straight points from the Broncos put them ahead 12-10, but the Irish nodded up the score once again at 13. Both teams went back-and-forth until Notre Dame took a slight edge, 23-20, and finished off the set 25-23.
• The Irish again got off to a hot start in set two scoring three straight points, but Santa Clara (0-1) evened up the score at 5 after a kill by Cate Shanahan. An ace by Macy Hinshaw capped off a four point Bronco rally, causing a Notre Dame timeout. The Irish scored the next two, but the Broncos again capped off a four point rally this time with a kill from Shanahan to go up 14-9. The Broncos rode the momentum to the end, closing out set two, 25-17.
• Notre Dame took an early 6-3 lead in set three, but the Broncos again got within one after a kill from Grace Flanagan. Three straight Bronco points tied it up at 17, but Notre Dame rattled off a 7-1 scoring run to end the set with a 25-18 victory.
• An ace from Layla Truitt put the Broncos up 6-2 to begin set four, and later 8-3. However, three straight points from Notre Dame cut the Bronco lead to just one. Five straight points off kills from Hayes and Shanahan extended the Bronco lead to 17-10,  but five straight Notre Dame points cut the lead to 19-17. Four more Irish points gave them a 21-20 advantage, but the Broncos rallied to go up 23-22. Two more Irish points put them at match point, but a kill from Truitt kept the Broncos in it. Three straight Bronco points sent them to a decisive game five with a 27-25 victory.
• An ace by Ashlynn Reilly capped off a four point rally for the Broncos, forcing a Notre Dame timeout. Another ace by Shanahan put the Broncos ahead 7-2, and a kill from Hayes made it 11-6. Another kill from Hayes made it 13-9. An attacking error from Notre Dame made it 14-10, but the Irish scored four in a row to tie the game at 14. A kill by Shanahan ended the Irish rally, but three straight Notre Dame points ended the match, 17-15.

NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Macy Hinshaw recorded a career high 40 assists, adding 19 digs for her third career double-double.
• Cate Shanahan had a career high and team-leading 13 kills.
• Lexi Trapani tied her career high with 22 digs.
• Layla Truitt became the first Bronco to hit .400 or better since Oren Abutbul (.414 vs. SMC on Nov. 4, 2023). *minimum 12 kills
• Morgan Hayes recorded a career high 11 kills, while Tia Kapihe also had a career best with nine kills.
• Outside Hitter Ashlynn Reilly made her Bronco debut, recording a team-leading three service aces.
• Santa Clara falls to 6-6 overall against Notre Dame all-time.

 
UP NEXT:
The Broncos will cap off the Catholic Challenge tomorrow at Noon P.T. against Villanova. Live stats for the match are available here.