[2] The Fighting Irish fielded their first volleyball team in 1980 under head coach Sandy Vanslager.

[3] Under coach Lambert In 1986, in just the programs 7th season, they would win the North Star Conference tournament, beating Northern Illinois in the championship game.

[4][5] She would immediately show signs of success, finishing as runner ups in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in her first season.

[6][3] In Brown's third season in 1993 Notre Dame made the quarterfinals of the 1993 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament, getting a first round bye then beating Nebraska and Minnesota before again losing to Penn State.

[3] From 1992 to 2006 Notre Dame made 15 straight NCAA tournament appearances under Debbie Brown and two more in 2009 and 2012.