Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 30, 2024 49 BY TODD D. BURLAGE N otre Dame senior Sydney Palazzolo didn't really know what to expect when she decided to transfer to Notre Dame from High Point University before her junior season in 2023. A standout outside hitter for the Pan- thers in North Carolina for two seasons, Palazzolo twice earned All-Big South Conference recognition, including league Player of the Year honors in 2022. With everything seemingly right with her world, Palazzolo still admits that even while she piled up kills and wins at High Point, she grew ready for a change of scenery that would bring her nearer to home and her family in suburban De- troit, and raise her level of competition. Two years later — as Palazzolo moves through the final stretch of her terrific two-stop, four-year college career — the Irish team leader is thrilled that the tough choice to relocate ended up the perfect decision. "Honestly, I'm having so much fun with the team," she said. "These girls are going to be my friends for life and I love them all. I'm going to make the most out of these last few weeks." During her time with the Irish, Palaz- zolo became one of the best outside hit- ters in the Atlantic Coast Conference. A second-team All-ACC selection after her junior season in 2023, Palazzolo may be up for similar honors again in 2024. "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." While the win-loss results never ended up what Palazzolo was hoping for when she arrived to Notre Dame, the experi- ences, friendships and personal growth she gained during her time on campus will last a lifetime. From academics to career connections, she freely celebrates all of the benefits Notre Dame provided her. But becoming a stronger leader and teammate stands atop that list. "As I became more comfortable with my position on the team, I could feel myself being able to have more of a posi- tion where people are looking up to me," Palazzolo said. "Developing as a player helped develop me as a person, too." Palazzolo was hoping that her final season at Notre Dame would be the sea- son that her Irish would end a three-year NCAA Tournament drought. Instead, it's been a roller-coaster year that featured a 7-1 start, but then included an 11-game losing streak during a tough ACC stretch. Undeterred through the hard times, Palazzolo said the team's approach and attitude never changed. "It would definitely be the easier route to just kind of take the losses and continue on that losing streak," she said. "But we're choosing the hard route to try and get some more wins. And I think the whole team has bought into that, just trying to play for each other and end the season on a high note." A realist and an All-ACC Academic team selection, Palazzolo explained that when the Irish close their season against Cal Nov. 30, volleyball will take a back seat to career pursuits. The pre-pro- fessional sciences major plans to attend med school after graduating from Notre Dame this spring, with plans to some- day work as an anesthesiologist. "Maybe I'll still play volleyball for fun," she said. But until then, Palazzolo said she wants to squeeze everything she can out of the rest of her time at Notre Dame, in volleyball and beyond. "I'm going to play for my teammates and play for my 13-year-old self who always wanted to be at this moment in my life," Palazzolo said in reflection. "I'm living a lot of full-circle moments, trying to make the best of the last few games we have." ✦ Sydney Palazzolo Savoring All Things Notre Dame N O T R E D A M E S P O R T S A second-team All-ACC selection after her junior season in 2023, Palazzolo may be up for similar honors again in 2024. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS Irish Roundup CROSS COUNTRY Both the Irish men and women captured first place at the 2024 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Nov. 15 in Norton, Ohio, marking the first po- dium sweep for the Irish since 2021 … The No. 6 Irish women won their fourth straight regional title with a team score of 51 to finish 46 points ahead of the rest of the field … The No. 19 Irish men claimed their first regional crown since 2021 with a team score of 70, 12 points better than runner-up Wisconsin, the No. 9 team in the country. FENCING The men and women both went 5-0 at the Elite Invitational Nov. 17 in Philadelphia. HOCKEY (5-7 OVERALL, 1-5 BIG TEN) Suffered 8-3 and 4-3 defeats at the hands of Michigan State Nov. 15-16 in East Lansing, Mich., extending their losing skid to five straight. MEN'S SOCCER (7-5-5 OVERALL, 3-3-2 ACC) Did not receive an at-large bid to the 48-team field for the NCAA Championship. WOMEN'S SOCCER (12-3-4 OVERALL, 5-1-4 ACC) Opened NCAA Championship play with a 5-1 victory over Milwaukee in a first-round contest Nov. 15 at Alumni Stadium … The No. 4-seeded Irish drew a second-round matchup versus No. 5-seeded Kentucky Nov. 22 at Starkville, Miss. WOMEN'S SWIMMING (1-4 OVERALL, 0-1 ACC) Closing out its fall slate by taking part in the Ohio State Fall Invite Nov. 21-23 in Columbus, Ohio. VOLLEYBALL (10-15 OVERALL, 3-13 ACC) Fell 3-1 to North Carolina Nov. 15 before snapping a 10-game losing streak with a 3-1 triumph over Duke Nov. 17 in South Bend.