Sept. 1, 1999

Notre Dame, Ind. - Senior captain Mary Leffers' 10 kills led the Notre Dame volleyball team (1-0) to a 15-4, 15-5, 15-2 win over visiting Valparaiso (0-1) in both teams' 1999 season-openers at the Joyce Center Wednesday night. The win was Notre Dame's ninth-straight in season-openers, making the Irish a perfect 9-0 since Debbie Brown took over as head coach in 1991.

After Valparaiso scored the first point of game one, the Irish went on to build up a 7-1 lead before the Crusaders could respond with three more points, pushing the score to 7-4. Notre Dame, however, never looked back, scoring eight unanswered points for a 15-4, game one victory.

In game two, the Irish maintained their momentum, jumping out to a quick 7-1 lead. Valparaiso scored the game's next two points, before Notre Dame managed to increase its lead to 14-2, eventually winning, 15-5.

Game three was much the same story for the Irish, as Notre Dame jumped out to an early lead, winning 15-2.

Notre Dame junior setter Denise Boylan (Lisle, Ill.) had 27 assists, while sophomore Marcie Bomhack (Waukesha, Wis.) added seven kills on .463 hitting with three digs and four blocks. Sophomore Kristy Kreher (Birmingham, Mich.) was second on the team with eight kills and freshman Keara Coughlin (Chicago, Ill.), making her first career start, tallied seven digs and three aces to lead the Irish.

Valparaiso's Sarah Slowick led her team with seven kills and seven digs.

Notre Dame plays host to the four-team Shamrock Invitational this weekend at the Joyce Center. The Irish will face Northwestern on Friday, Sept. 3, sixth-ranked Pacific on Saturday, Sept. 4, and Louisville on Sunday, Sept. 5. All matches are at the Joyce Center.