Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1506454
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 2, 2023 49 ND SPORTS BY TODD D. BURLAGE M uch has changed for Notre Dame senior Hattie Monson in the last year and a half. A new volleyball coach, a new leader- ship role, a fresh outlook on the game she's spent almost her entire life play- ing — everything that was growing old is new again. Monson is a three-time All-ACC Ac- ademic selection, and her studies have never faltered at Notre Dame. But her volleyball life was turned upside down in December 2021 when, after a disap- pointing 13-15 season, Irish head coach Mike Johnson was let go. His dismissal was followed by about a six-week coaching search that left the en- tire program in limbo, and ultimately with a gutted roster because of multiple trans- fers. Keeping her options open, Monson, a gifted libero, also felt compelled to put her name into the NCAA transfer portal during those uncertain times. "And I was very, very close to transfer- ring to another school," Monson recalled. But as the program unraveled around her in the winter of 2021-22, something moved Monson to stick it out. Her pa- tience was rewarded when barely a week before the 2022 spring semester began at Notre Dame, renowned volleyball player, assistant coach and broadcaster Salima Rockwell was introduced as the new Fighting Irish head coach in January 2022. "I never wanted to leave such a great place, but at the time it was starting to seem like my only option," she said. "Salima just brought so much hope to what was honestly a hopeless and lost program at the time. And to have the opportunity for her to be our coach made it just a no-brainer for me to stay." The admiration remains mutual. Monson said she wouldn't have be- come such a strong vocal leader with- out Rockwell pushing her. Meanwhile, Rockwell appreciates that Monson stuck around last year and became a founda- tion to rebuild her program around. "Hattie has been phenomenal in watching her growth and development in a leadership role, not just by leading by example but now a vocal leader as well," Rockwell said. "It's been really fun to watch her blossom over the last year. And she's ready to go." An All-ACC Freshman team selection in 2020 and the team leader in digs the last two seasons, the Chicagoland native showed steady improvement during her first three seasons. But her fourth is the one Monson is most focused on. Monson's Irish took their lumps dur- ing a 10-18 season in 2022, a transition year with a new coaching staff and a total roster revamp. But the newness is gone. A cast of ter- rific players returns and expectations have grown exponentially year over year. "Our common goal is different this year," Monson said. "We have a common goal that we're going to win many more games, we're going to upset some teams this season, and we're going to surprise some people." Even more good news for Fighting Irish volleyball and Rockwell, Monson has de- cided to return to Notre Dame and play a fifth season as a graduate student in 2024. "What it came down to was the fact that I could get my undergrad degree and my master's degree from Notre Dame, and be around Salima and my teammates for one more year in a happy environ- ment where I'm thriving in life," Monson said. "There was just no other option." ✦ Monson led the team in both digs (453) and service aces (30), plus was second in assists (138), while playing in all 108 sets at libero for the Fighting Irish last season. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS Volleyball Standout Hattie Monson Is Ready For A Turnaround IRISH ROUNDUP CROSS COUNTRY The Notre Dame men and women both open the season Sept. 1 at the Crusader Invite in Valparaiso, Ind. MEN'S SOCCER (0-0-1) The Fighting Irish opened the season with a 1-1 tie against No. 2-ranked Indiana Aug. 24 in South Bend … Notre Dame will host IUPUI Aug. 27 and Northern Illinois Sept. 1. WOMEN'S SOCCER (2-0-1) No. 3-ranked Notre Dame opened the sea- son with a 2-2 tie against Milwaukee Aug. 17 in South Bend … The Fighting Irish broke into the win column with a 3-0 blanking of Ball State Aug. 20 and a 4-1 victory versus Butler Aug. 24, both at home … The Irish will host Arkansas Aug. 27 before traveling to East Lan- sing, Mich., to take on Michigan State Sept. 3. VOLLEYBALL (0-0) The Fighting Irish opened the season with matches against Wichita State and Texas Tech in the Under Armour Challenge Aug. 25-26 at Lubbock, Texas … Notre Dame will next com- pete versus Villanova and Santa Clara at the Catholic Challenge Sept. 1-2 in Philadelphia.