Box Score
 
BALTIMORE, Md. – Immaculata University's volleyball team traveled to Notre Dame of Maryland University Thursday night handing the Gators (15-2, 3-1 CSAC) their first Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) loss of the season, 3-1. The Mighty Macs (5-7, 3-2 CSAC) won the match by scores of 25-16, 21-25, 25-19, and 25-19.
 
Senior Arden Vizzard led the Mighty Macs with nine kills, while adding 13 digs and three blocks. Sophomore Olivia Zdradzinski had a double-double with 25 assists and 15 digs, while freshman Sara Desmond led the defense with 19 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two teams traded points and leads during the first half of the opening set. Notre Dame held a slim two-point (12-10) when Immaculata won five-straight points to regain the advantage, 15-12, and force Notre Dame to use a timeout. The Gators got within one point of the Mighty Macs at 17-16, but the guests won the final eight points of the set for the 25-16 win.
- Immaculata pulled ahead with a 7-2 lead to start the second set. However, a 7-2 run by Notre Dame evened the set at 9-all. The Mighty Macs built a five-point lead again at 16-11 as they had two kills from Vizzard, one kill by senior Gabrielle Guerrera and Taylor, and two blocks by junior Shelby Belk and one from Guerrera and Vizzard. The lead was short-lived as the Gators went on an eight-point run to reclaim the lead, 19-16. The set was all tied at 19-19, but Notre Dame won the next two points and never gave the lead away.
- The third set started with the Mighty Macs again getting out to a 7-2 lead, and Notre Dame forced to call a timeout. The Gators cut the deficit to four points on seven different occasions, the last at the 23-19 mark, but a Notre Dame attack error and kill from Belk gave the Mighty Macs the 25-19 win in the third set, and a 2-1 lead in the match.
- Immaculata took the lead on the opening point of the fourth set, and the Mighty Macs never gave it back. Immaculata had a four-point run to give it a five-point cushion at 9-4, and the closest Notre Dame came was within three points (16-13). After the Gators cut it to three, the Mighty Macs responded with a four-point run to increase their lead to 20-13, and forced Notre Dame into a timeout. The Gators got within five points, but a block by Belk and Vizzard got the Mighty Macs to match-point, and a hitting error by Notre Dame sealed it for Immaculata.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Kills: Vizzard had a team-best nine kills. Taylor added eight kills, and Guerrera finished with seven. Belk and Zdradzinski each finished with five kills each.
- Assists: Zdradzinski amassed 25 assists, and freshman Lex Poss handed out eight.
- Digs: Four Mighty Macs had double figures in digs led by Desmond's 19. Junior Madi Curley recorded 16 digs, Zdradzinski came up with 15, and Vizzard had 13 digs.
- Blocks: Belk made five blocks, while Vizzard joined in on three. Guerrera, Zdradzinski and senior Rachael Rockefeller all had two block assists.
 
COACH'S THOUGHTS
- "The team really played great tonight," said head coach Jill Holdren. "We played as a team and didn't get down on themselves. We played a strong, consistent match."
 
UP NEXT
-Immaculata heads to Clarks Summit on Saturday for an 11 a.m. CSAC match against the Defenders.