ND scores impressive four-set win at Clay

ROSEMOUNT — Over the years, few rivalries have carried more traditional intensity than the matchups between the Notre Dame Titans’ and Clay Panthers’ volleyball programs.

Thursday evening’s match between the two longtime SOC I combatants was no different.

In the end, however, the play of Notre Dame’s Jaysa Bryant and Sophie Phillips won out.

Bryant, who posted 28 kills, and Phillips, who chimed in 20 kills and seven aces, helped the Lady Titans break a one-all match draw after two sets of competition as Notre Dame claimed the third and fourth sets by 25-16 and 25-13 margins as well as the match to move to 9-1 overall and claim the SOC I lead on Thursday evening in a match that was held at Clay High School in Rosemount.

For Drew Novinger-Phillips, the first-year Notre Dame head coach was pleased with how her group answered the bell and continued to raise its level of play as the match went along.

“The girls came out and were really looking forward to this match,” Novinger-Phillips said. “It’s always been a great rivalry. You add in the fact that the winner takes control of the SOC I race, and it makes for an intense environment. It was a big game that we prepared well for, and the girls played strong, particularly in the last set. They came out fired up and wanting to finish the job for the night. I’m really proud of them for the mentality that they had.”

Jumping out to leads of 4-0 and 8-4 to begin the match, Clay was able to rally back as the Lady Panthers played well behind the junior duo of Elin Shaw and Alayna Shepherd. Shaw amassed six of her 18 kills in the opening set, helping Clay rally from an 8-4 deficit en route to claiming a 12-11 advantage.

But Bryant, who has been big throughout her career in every sport she’s taken part in as a dynamic three-sport athlete, took over matters from there.

The senior frontline player posted nine kills, a block and an ace in the opening set, with six of those kills coming in the final 22 volleys of the first frame to give Notre Dame the 25-20 victory in the opening set of competition.

Peep Shepherd, however, picked Clay up in the second set.

Down by a 5-4 count early in the second set, Shepherd controlled play at the net with six kills, a block and an ace in the second set as the Lady Panthers overcame the deficit behind Shepherd, who played fantastic volleyball up front throughout the second frame.

As a result, Clay turned the 5-4 deficit into a 14-11 lead off of a 10-6 run, and never trailed throughout the rest of the second set en route to evening the match at a set apiece.

Shepherd finished the evening with 13 kills, four blocks and two aces for the Lady Panthers.

“We knew going into the match what they could do,” Novinger-Phillips said. “I just tried to tell the girls, ‘Hey, we have to be aware of where they’re at on the floor at all times.’ We struggled a little bit with the tips in the middle, but the girls really picked up defensively after the first and second set.”

But Notre Dame proved to be unfazed.

Jumping out to a 4-0 match lead to begin the third set, Notre Dame increased that advantage to 12-6 as Bryant posted five kills in the set’s first 18 volleys while Phillips added in back-to-back spikes to push the lead to that margin.

Clay closed Notre Dame’s set leads to 14-11 and 20-16 behind Shepherd, who posted four kills and a block in the third frame, but after closing within those margins, the Lady Panthers got no closer the rest of the way.

Notre Dame, who closed the third set on a 5-0 run behind two kills from Phillips and two aces from Audrey Bach en route to a 25-16 third-set win, then took complete control in the fourth set, scoring the first eight points of the frame as Phillips posted four aces while Bryant added in two kills.

“That’s something that we talk about all the time — whether you’re up or down, it doesn’t matter, just bring that energy,” Phillips said. “The last set was a perfect example of that. The momentum that we had in that set and how crisp we played at the end of the third set and throughout the fourth was a result of the girls continuing to play with high energy and intensity.”

Both Bryant and Phillips then each added in five more kills apiece as Notre Dame extended its lead all the way out to a 14-point lead at match point (24-10) before closing the deal for good with a 25-13 fourth set triumph.

“They’re our go-tos in the front row,” Phillips said of Bryant and Phillips. “We expect a lot from Jaysa, and she makes smart plays time after time on the court with hitting and tipping. Sophie did an excellent job hitting and serving, and our entire team did a great job in that area as we were able to take some key points at the service line. I’m really proud of them. They came out hungry. I’m just super happy for them.”

With the victory, Notre Dame improved to 9-1 overall ahead of a major clash against Valley (11-0) in a matchup that features two state-ranked opponents in Division VII and Division VI, respectively.

“All around, the girls did a great job,” Phillips said of Thursday’s victory. “I’m so proud of them. They did awesome.”

Clay, who fell to 9-3 and 2-1 in the SOC I, will look to rebound next Tuesday at East.

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