Duke Earns Road Sweep Over Notre Dame

Friday, October 16

Notre Dame, Ind.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Notre Dame

Duke Earns Road Sweep Over Notre Dame

10/16/2015 9:08:00 PM | Volleyball

By: Duke Sports Information

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Cadie Bates and Jordan Tucker knocked down 12 kills each to lead Duke to a straight-set victory (3-0 | 25-19, 25-17, 25-20) over Notre Dame Friday evening at the Irish's Purcell Pavilion.

Tucker totaled double-digit kills for the fourth straight match, committing just one attack error on 23 swings to register a .478 hitting percentage. The Prairie Village, Kan., native has amassed 69 kills over the past four matches and is hitting .340 during that span.

“Jordan's been really consistent these past few matches,” said head coach Jolene Nagel. “She's been really efficient offensveily and has also really improved her block. She's got her mind in the right place which really helps our team in the process>”

Bates picked up her fourth double-digit-kill performance of the year, posting a .310 hitting percentage in the process. The sophomore outside hitter also added seven digs and a pair of blocks.

“Cadie brings her energy and she plays hard all the time,” Nagel said. “It's really exciting to see her have as many kills as she did tonight.”

For the match, Duke (8-9, 3-4 ACC) hit .294 compared to Notre Dame's (6-13, 1-6 ACC) .105 clip. The Blue Devils totaled 9.0 blocks, including four stops each from Tucker, Leah Meyer and Alyse Whitaker.

“Really excited our team could come out and get an ACC win on the road and execute as well as we offensively and defensively with our blocking,” Nagel added.

Libero Sasha Karelov notched a match-high 19 digs while outside hitter Emily Sklar picked up 10 digs to go along with eight kills.

Setter Maggie Deichmeister dished out 35 assists, picked up five digs and added a pair of blocks.

Sklar and Tucker put down four kills each to power Duke past Notre Dame, 25-19, in the opening set. The Blue Devils totaled 16 kills in the frame, hitting .300. The defense was also solid, picking up 24 digs, including eight from Karelov, to limit the Irish to a .116 hitting percentage.

Sophomore Cadie Bates knocked down eight of her 12 kills in Duke's 25-17 second set victory. The Irish won the first point of the set, but Duke did not trail the rest of the way.

Notre Dame held a 13-12 lead in the third before a 7-2 Duke rally put the set and the match away. Tucker had three kills during that stretch to help Duke regain momentum. The Blue Devils went on to win the frame, 25-20, hitting a match-best .321 in the stanza.

“I'm glad to see we increased our hitting percentage in the third set,” Nagel said. “Our team kept their intensity and was able to finish strong offensively.”

Sam Fry was the only Irish player to reach double-digit kills, leading all players with 14.

Duke faces a tough challenge Sunday, Oct. 18, traveling to No. 25 Louisville for a 1 p.m. match against the Cardinals.

#GoDuke