The top seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish held the No. 8 Seton Hall Pirates under 20 points in each set of their quarterfinal victory at the BIG EAST Volleyball Championship. Notre Dame, who is ranked 23rd in latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll, got 12 kills from All-BIG EAST First Team selections Christina Kaelin and Serinity Phillips in the 3-0 victory (25-15, 25-15, 25-19).

The Pirates came out strong in the first set, jumping out to an early 7-4 lead, but the Irish used a 6-3 run of their own to take command of the game. Phillips led the offensive attack for the Irish, tallying five kills and two blocks. Sophomore Kristen Dealy chipped in with four kills and five digs. 

Again, Seton Hall kept it close in the early goings of the second set at 6-6, but Notre Dame used a 6-1 run to pull away. Once up, the Fighting Irish kept pushing the tempo, putting away kills and using superb blocking to take another 25-15 set victory.

Notre Dame started the third set with an 8-3 lead but Seton Hall battled back to come within two at 9-7. The Fighting Irish used a 9-2 run to separate from the Pirates but SHU refused to go away. Down 19-11, Seton Hall put together six points to Notre Dame's two, highlighted by two kills from junior Sarah Osmun. 21-17 was as close as the Pirates could get, as Notre Dame closed out the set on a kill from sophomore Megan Barnicle to win the set 25-19 and the match 3-0.

Notre Dame awaits the winner of the No. 4 Louisville - No. 5 Syracuse matchup which begins at 6 p.m. this evening. The second semifinal match will start tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m.