August 25, 20171st2nd3rd4thFinal
Valparaiso16192591
Notre Dame252523253
VALPOTeam StatsND
.037Hitting Pct..190
35Kills52
28Errors17
190Total Attacks184
32Assists50
5Aces7
106Digs106
4.0Blocks14.5
VALPOLeadersND
Carlson - 11
KillsJemma Yeadon - 13
Anderson - 23
AssistsCaroline Holt - 49
Anderson - 2
AcesRyann DeJarld - 4
Cookerly - 43
DigsRyann DeJarld - 38
Bronner - 2
Ketcham - 2
Graboski - 2
BlocksSam Fry - 7
Meg Morningstar - 7
BoxscorePlay-by-Play
Cookerly Sets Valpo Program Record in Debut Versus Notre Dame
Friday, August 25, 2017
Cookerly Sets Valpo Program Record in Debut Versus Notre Dame
The Crusaders listen to head coach Carin Avery following their third set win over ND.

The Valparaiso University volleyball program boasts a strong tradition of successful liberos, but freshman Rylee Cookerly (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) topped them all on Friday, setting a new program single-match record with 43 digs as the Crusaders battled with ACC foe Notre Dame in an eventual 3-1 (25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-9) defeat in their season opener.

Key Moment

The Crusaders scored four of the final six points in the third set to force a fourth set against the Fighting Irish, but Notre Dame jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the fourth set en route to closing out the match.

How It Happened

  • The Fighting Irish used a mid-set run in the first set to claim the opener, and then with the score just 19-18 in the second set, scored six of the final seven points to take a 2-0 advantage.
  • The Crusaders looked poised to send the match to a fourth set as they jumped out to a 19-12 lead in the third frame, but Notre Dame went on a 9-2 run to even the set at 21-all. Back-to-back kills from senior Taylor Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio/Upper Sandusky) and junior Katherine Carlson (Lake Orion, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) restored the lead to the Crusaders, and a Notre Dame service error eventually sent the match to set four.
  • Notre Dame quickly claimed control of the fourth set, scoring the first six points en route to a 14-2 lead, and the Irish closed out the match from there.

 Inside the Match

  • Cookerly wasted no time making her mark on the Crusader record book, totaling 43 digs over the four sets for a new Valpo single-match record. The rookie picked up 10 digs in the opening set and nine in the second set before exploding for 19 digs in the third set.
  • Cookerly’s 43 digs broke Valpo’s previous single-match record, as well as the program’s four-set match record, by three digs. The previous mark was set by Karen Kulick against UIC in November of 1991, back in the sideout-scoring era.
  • Previous liberos Brittany Malicoat and Taylor Root had held the Crusaders’ rally-scoring single-match digs record at 39 prior to Cookerly’s effort on Friday.
  • Carlson was the only Crusader to reach double figures in kills on Friday, finishing the night with 11 kills.
  • Carlson also picked up 18 digs for a double-double, while redshirt junior Allison Ketcham (Mishawaka, Ind./Marian) – returning from injury – also tallied 18 digs.
  • Freshman setter Brittany Anderson (East Chicago, Ind./Bishop Noll) made her collegiate debut on Friday, recording a double-double with 23 assists and 11 digs.
  • A new-look squad was on the floor for the Crusaders on Friday, as six of the 11 Valpo players who saw action were freshmen.

Next Up

Valpo (0-1) closes out the Golden Dome Invitational on Saturday with a pair of matches, taking on New Mexico State at 9 a.m. CT and Rhode Island at 3 p.m. Both matches will have live stats available via ValpoAthletics.com.