Loyola Gets Jump on Notre Dame

Many factors have figured prominently in Notre Dame High volleyball team’s string of disappointments this season. Thursday night at Loyola, they included sprained ankles and jump serves.

With Knight starters Tom Stillwell and Tim Webber sidelined because of ankle injuries, Loyola buried Notre Dame under a barrage of jump serves and won the Mission League match, 15-5, 15-3, 15-7.

The loss dropped Notre Dame to 3-6, 1-5 in league play.

“We’ve struggled a lot this year, there’s no doubt about that,” Notre Dame Coach Jim Hall said. “There’s a lot of discouragement from the kids. They had a lot of high expectations.”

Loyola sophomore setter Vaughn Montgomery opened the first game by jump serving for six points, including two aces. Notre Dame also had two hitting errors and numerous bad passes during the stretch.

“Our biggest weakness all year has been our passing,” Hall said. “I lost my three star passers from last year, but at times we can pass great. I know they can pass and they know they can pass. Again, it just becomes a confidence factor.’

Notre Dame closed to 6-4 because of Cub errors, but Loyola (7-2, 6-1) scored nine of the game’s final 10 points.

Games 2 and 3 passed in similar fashion.

Stillwell, the 6-foot-8 senior who has signed with UCLA, sat impassively on the bench, sidelined since spraining his ankle in a tournament Saturday. He is expected to return in two weeks.

“In the second half of the season, if Tom comes back, it will make a lot of difference,” Hall said. “We don’t have the go-to guy with him out.’

Jim Swerkes tried to fill that role but he led Notre Dame with only five kills.

Hall knows the team’s preseason goals are no longer attainable.

“The playoffs are not really realistic at this point,” Hall said. “This is a learning experience and a rebuilding year. But we’re looking to go out and be a spoiler for some teams.”