SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Storm women's volleyball team fell to the Notre Dame College Falcons in three sets. The set scores were 29-27, 25-18, and 25-16. This match brings the Storm to a 2-5 record, and the Falcons to a 3-7 record. 

The Storm and the Falcons both finished with 36 kills. Sophomore setter Simone Schurr and sophomore setter Sarah Leyden both finished with 16 assists. Senior outside Kariema Rodriguez-Diaz led the Storm in kills, finishing the match with 15. Senior libero Kaylee Hiser recorded 14 digs. 

The Storm took charge of the first match, with Rodriguez-Diaz putting away two kills and senior rightside Dora Olah putting down one. They took a nice lead of 7-1, continuing with Falcon errors and a kill from senior rightside Maria Blatnik. The Storm grew a 14-8 lead before the Falcons went on a four point run to bring them back into the game 14-13, Storm. The Storm responded with more kills, but the Falcons tied it up at 16-16. From then on, it was a close back and forth set. The Storm and the Falcons were tied 24-24 going into the end of the set, with two more kills from Blatnik. Some Storm errors mixed with a Falcon kill brought the set to a close 29-27, with the Falcons taking the set.

The second set started off competitive for both teams, with kills from Rodriguez-Diaz, senior outside Jordan Taylor, and freshman middle Jessica Ikes. The score was tied multiple times, but at 14-14 the Falcons took over. The Falcons went on a seven point run giving them the lead of 21-14. A kill from Rodriguez-Diaz, Blatnik, and junior middle Anna Lewis kept the Storm alive, but the Falcons took the set 25-18 with some Storm errors and Falcon kills. 

The Storm found themself in a deficit early in the third set, with the Falcons coming in swinging to take a lead of 10-5. Kills from Ickes and Olah fought back, but the Falcons continued to put the ball away. The Falcons furthered their lead to 20-8, before junior middle Katelyn McMoore and junior outside Peyton Lemmer responded with some kills. Rodriguez-Diaz put down two more kills at the end, but the Falcons' lead could not be topped, finishing out the match winning set at 25-16, Falcons. 

The Storm return to their home court for their first conference match on Friday, September 9th at 6:00 PM against the Northwood Timberwolves.