The Notre Dame High School volleyball team finished the 2023 season with a 32-7 record, capturing both the district and region tournament crowns before falling in the sectional round, just one step short of the state tournament.
In the Division II, District 2-A Tournament finals held Oct. 2 in the Varallo Athletic Center on the Notre Dame campus, the Lady Irish swept Boyd Buchanan 28-26, 25-20, 25-16 to win the district title. The first two sets were back and forth before the Lady Irish pulled away in the third set.
Boyd Buchanan School was the runner-up, while Silverdale Baptist Academy finished third.
From left (bottom photo) are district coach of the year Dan Clotfelter and All-District Lady Irish players Maggie Clotfelter, Callie McCormick, Maggie Fillauer, Samantha Brown, and Caimen Cothron.
Leading the way for Notre Dame was senior Maggie Fillauer. She finished the night with 18 digs, two aces, and one assist. Samantha Brown added 11 kills, five digs, four blocks, and one ace. Rounding out the top performers for the Irish was Scarlett Hughes, who had six kills, 23 digs, and two blocks.
The Lady Irish had five players named to the 2023 All-District Team. The player of the year was Maggie, and teammates Caimen Cothron, Callie McCormick, Maggie Clotfelter, and Samantha were named to the All-District Team. Notre Dame head coach Dan Clotfelter was named the district coach of the year.
Notre Dame continued postseason play with a Division II East Region Tournament match at home against Berean Christian of Knoxville on Oct. 5. The Lady Irish swept that match 25-20, 25-15, 25-15. The Lady Irish needed four sets to knock out Concord Christian on Oct. 7 in the region semifinals, 26-28, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20. That same evening, they clinched the region title with a five-set win over Lakeway Christian, 25-23, 25-16, 15-25, 15-25, 15-6.
On Oct. 14, Middle Tennessee Christian (41-3) ended the Lady Irish’s season in the sectionals with a 25-6, 25-11, 21-25, 21-25, 15-11 victory.
