VILLANOVA- The Academy of Notre Dame girls’ volleyball team is heading to the final round of the PAISAA Tournament.  They won at home last night  3-1 over Agnes Irwin.

For the Irish, winning may seem easy. However, last night Agnes Irwin gave them a taste of what to expect from their team come next year. Even though AIS was playing with a young team all season and only had one senior on the court last night, Ginny Ulichney, who ended her career with 7 kills, 22 digs, 22 serves and 38 receives, the Owls did not volley lightly. 

The Irish won quite readily in the first two sets with scores of 25-12, 25-11 but then tides turned. The Owls came back to win in the 3rd set with a score of 25-21. The fourth set showed to be the proving ground for the Irish, however not without AIS’s determination.  Both teams volleyed back-and-forth keeping the score tied most of the set. But the defending 2014 Inter Ac and PAISAA Champions sealed the deal with a 29-27 final.

Notre Dame Head Volleyball Coach Mike Sheridan knows all too well the capability of his team but also knew how much the Owls wanted that win.

“When you have a team in that position as AIS you have to know how to finish them and we did not exhibit that quality today, but we have in the past and I am confident that when we play the game we are capable of playing we could beat anybody,” said Sheridan.

Senior Captain Shannon Quigley launched the Irish forward with her 18 kills and senior Madi Brennan did her job protecting the team with three mind-blowing defensive blocks. Notre Dame junior Elise Butler shocked the opponent with her three consecutive service aces and 7 superb digs.  

According to Sheridan his senior players are the building blocks of his team. 

“We have all those years of experience,” said Sheridan. “Many have played three years of varsity so you hope like they did tonight when they get the pressure situation they can fight off the nerves and pull out the win like they did.”

Those years of experience are also what Germantown Academy’s Volleyball team is depending on.  The Irish will face the Patriots in a match of all matches come tomorrow.

“GA is a very good team. They are also loaded with seniors and are very well coached,” said Sheridan.

Germantown Academy is undefeated in the Inter Ac League with an 8-0 record and a 13-1 overall record. They won in a 3-0 sweep against George School last night also giving them the chance to claim the PAISAA Title.

The last time Notre Dame played GA it was a 3-2 game- the Patriots claiming the win 15-13 in the fifth game.

So get your popcorn ready for a great match.  The battle begins 5 p.m. tomorrow night at The Baldwin School!