The NC State volleyball team lost its second match in a row Sunday afternoon, falling to Notre Dame 3-0 in South Bend, Indiana for its fourth loss in its last five matches.

Despite playing the Fighting Irish (9-3) within five points on all three sets, the Wolfpack (5-9) was never able to reach 25 points, thus falling in straight sets 25-22, 25-20, 25-20.

NC State held an early 12-7 lead in the first set, but two separate 4-0 runs by Notre Dame helped the Fighting Irish battle back to take the set by three points.

The roles were reversed to start the second set, as the Wolfpack fell behind 12-7 to begin the set. Despite trading points for the remainder of the set, the Wolfpack couldn’t stifle Notre Dame for long enough, and the Fighting Irish took its second set in a row.

A blown lead doomed NC State in the decisive third set, as the Wolfpack’s 19-16 late-set lead was quickly erased as Notre Dame scored the next six points to take a 22-19 lead and hold off the Wolfpack for a 25-20 set win.

Junior opposite hitter Melissa Evans once again led the Wolfpack in kills, this time with 12, twice as many as that of the Pack’s second most, freshman outside hitter Daniela McDonald who racked up six.

Redshirt freshman setter Nina Sharpton dominated the setting for NC State, with 30 of the team’s 34 assists. Redshirt junior middle blocker Jessica Kemp and Sharpton were stalwarts on the defensive end, with six and four block assists, respectively.

Sharpton and senior libero Grace Irvin led the Wolfpack with 13 digs apiece, and sophomore outside hitter Jade Parchment was right behind them with 12 of her own.

NC State will be back in action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when it takes on UNC-Chapel Hill in Reynolds Coliseum. The match will be broadcast on the ACC Network.