Notre Dame rowing: ND rowers reach semis

Notre Dame's women's rowing team opened competition Friday at the 2014 NCAA Championship with three qualifiers for the A/B semifinal round at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis.

The Irish varsity four placed in the top two of their preliminary heat to secure a direct berth into Saturday's A/B semifinal for the second straight season. Notre Dame's first and second varsity eight boats also posted top finishes in each of their afternoon repechage heats, allowing the Irish to qualify all three entries into the A/B semifinals for the first time since the NCAA Championship went to an all-team format in 2009.

Notre Dame is scheduled to open A/B semifinal heats at 9 a.m. Saturday, when the first varsity eight takes the water.