Volleyball Welcomes Princeton and Penn to Leede This Weekend

Friday, Oct. 17 (Dig Pink and Disco Night): Dartmouth (12-4, 3-2 Ivy) vs. Princeton (9-6, 4-1 Ivy)
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Hanover, N.H.
All-Time Series: Princeton leads, 28-7
Last Dartmouth Victory: Oct. 18, 2013; W, 3-0

Saturday, Oct. 18: Dartmouth vs. Penn (5-11, 2-3 Ivy)
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Hanover, N.H.
All-Time Series: Penn leads, 29-7
Last Dartmouth Victory: Oct. 7, 2006; W, 3-0

Playing in Leede Arena for the second to last weekend this season, the Dartmouth volleyball team will face conference rivals Princeton and Penn on Friday and Saturday evening. These are the last two Ivy League teams that the Big Green have yet to face during the 2014 campaign. In addition to it being Homecoming Weekend, it is also Dig Pink and Disco Night on Friday.

Empire State of Mind – Dartmouth hit the road to New York this past weekend, facing Columbia on Friday before traveling three hours upstate to take on Cornell on Saturday. After winning the first set (25-18) against the Lions, the Big Green dropped the remaining three sets (28-26, 25-18, 25-21). The following day, the team from the Upper Valley returned to the court with a vengeance and defeated Cornell in straight sets (25-17, 25-18, 25-20).

So Far in the Ivy League – With a record of 3-2 in conference action, Dartmouth is in a three-way tie for third with Harvard and Columbia. Princeton and Yale are tied for first with a 4-1 record. The Green are first in blocks (132), tied for third in assists (691), third in aces (77), and fourth in kills (728) and digs (875).

In the Rankings – A handful of Big Green players have appeared in the individual conference rankings. Paige Caridi and Emily Astarita are fourth and fifth in kills with 181 and 173, respectively. Caridi is also fifth in kills per set with 3.18. Julia Lau remains fifth in digs with 234, while Lottie MacAulay is third with her 1.02 blocks per set.

Tidbit About the Tigers – Princeton's overall record of 9-6 is deceiving, as it was undefeated in Ivy League play until suffering a 3-0 loss to Yale at home last Saturday, giving it a 4-1 record heading into this weekend's match. Throughout the early part of the season, the Tigers played tough teams such as Charlotte and Temple, going to at least four sets before falling.

Scouting the Quakers – Until its match at Harvard the night before arriving in Hanover, Penn has played each of its conference matches on its home court, going 2-3 so far. Last weekend, the Quakers went 1-1, falling to Yale in straight sets before having an impressive 3-2 victory over Brown the following day.

Next up for the Big Green – Dartmouth will be on a five-match, five-state road trip, starting with a stop in Cambridge on Friday, Oct. 24 to face Harvard at 7 p.m.

Schedules