Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508769
50 OCT. 7, 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED ND SPORTS BY TODD D. BURLAGE W hen discussing her transfer and relocation in the spring from High Point University in North Carolina to Notre Dame, Irish junior Sydney Palaz- zolo prefers to look forward and not back. Palazzolo was a standout outside hit- ter at High Point for two seasons, where she twice earned All-Big South Con- ference recognition, including league Player of the Year honors in 2022. A native of Shelby Township, Mich., outside of Detroit, Palazzolo said that even while piling up kills and wins at High Point, she grew ready for a change of scenery that might bring her nearer to home and family. She got her wish. Now playing only about three hours from Shelby Town- ship, members of her family and friends fan club frequently make the trip to Notre Dame to watch the pride of Eisen- hower High School help lead this Fight- ing Irish volleyball program turnaround. Notre Dame began this season 8-3 af- ter going just 10-18 in all of 2022. "It means so much to have the sup- port of my family and friends. I didn't realize how much I missed it," Palazzolo said. "I get to see them pretty frequently now playing closer to home. It's so nice." In a match at Toledo Sept. 17, more than two dozen family members made the 90-mile trip to watch Palazzolo play. And through the first month of the season, Palazzolo provided her sup- porters plenty to cheer about. After 11 games, the 6-foot-3 Irish star led the ACC with 4.14 kills per game and 4.81 points per set. An ACC player had recorded 23 kills or more in a game just seven times this year, and Palazzolo was responsible for three of those. No other league player had more than one. With 207 points through 11 games, Palazzolo was responsible for nearly one-third of Notre Dame's scoring and was on pace to finish this season ranked third in program history in kills per set. "Sydney is one of the best all-around players that we've had here," Irish head volleyball coach Salima Rockwell said in a story for FightingIrish.com. "She does everything at a high level. … She's really, really good at everything." Palazzolo explained how her family helped to fuel her passion for volleyball. In fact, Palazzolo said that her older cousin, Kate Price, was the driving force for her even becoming interested in the sport. Ironically, Price played under Rock- well in 2008 when the latter was an as- sistant at Penn State. At peace in her new surroundings, Palazzolo said her campus experience has exceeded all ex- pectations so far. But the primary goal of ending a two-year absence from the NCAA Tournament remains. "I don't think there is a limit for how good this team can be," Palazzolo said. "That's going to be determined by how hard we are working and how much ef- fort and energy we put into this team. There really is no limit if we keep work- ing and pushing forward." ✦ Palazzolo, the 2022 Big South Player of the Year at High Point before transferring to Notre Dame, led the Irish and the ACC with 4.14 kills per game and 4.81 points per set through 11 matches this fall. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS Change Of Scenery Suits Volleyball's Sydney Palazzolo Well Irish Roundup MEN'S GOLF Notre Dame shot a 6-under-par 846 to place 11th at the Windon Memorial Classic Sept. 25-26 at Skokie, Ill. … The Irish will host the Fighting Irish Memorial Classic Oct. 1-2 in South Bend. WOMEN'S GOLF The Fighting Irish finished eighth with a 44-over 908 at the Glass City Invitational Sept. 25-26 in To- ledo, Ohio … Next up is the Evie Odom Invitational Oct. 6-8 at Virginia Beach, Va. MEN'S SOCCER (5-1-3 OVERALL, 2-0-1 ACC) No. 15-ranked Notre Dame notched a 3-1 home victory versus Virginia Sept. 22 … The Irish hit the road to play at North Carolina State Oct. 1. WOMEN'S SOCCER (6-1-3 OVERALL, 2-0-1 ACC) The No. 10-ranked Fighting Irish notched a 2-1 win at Duke Sept. 21 and then played Pittsburgh to a 1-1 draw Sept. 24 … Notre Dame returned home to host Louisville Sept. 30. VOLLEYBALL (8-3 OVERALL, 2-1 ACC) Notre Dame picked up a pair of home victories, defeating Boston College 3-2 Sept. 22 and Syracuse 3-0 Sept. 24, before falling to No. 5 Louisville 3-0 Sept. 27 … The Irish traveled to NC State Sept. 29.