Dartmouth Falls to Navy and Alabama to End Weekend

Saturday, September 1

Annapolis, Md.

10:00 AM

Dartmouth College

0-2

Navy

3-2

Dartmouth

Navy

Sophomore Mallen Bischoff

Photo by: Doug Austin

Dartmouth Falls to Navy and Alabama to End Weekend

9/1/2018 6:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Charlotte Brackett

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Dartmouth volleyball ended the Kristen Dickmann Invitational with a 3-1 loss to Navy (18-25, 25-22, 16-25, 25-27) and a 3-0 loss to Alabama (17-25, 20-25, 17-25) on Saturday.

At the conclusion of the weekend, freshman Francesca Meldrum was named all-tournament. In three matches, she had a total of 26 kills, two assists, four digs and 11 total blocks.

Dartmouth vs. Navy

Freshman Nicole Liddle had her first collegiate double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs, while junior Corinne Cox had her first of the season with 20 assists and 11 digs. Meldrum led with 15 points thanks to 11 kills, one ace, three digs and six total blocks.

"We played a much more together and inspired game today," head coach Gilad Doron said. "We need to continue and look for that going forward, both individually and as a team."

The Mids controlled the early parts of the first set, scoring the first five points, but the Big Green started to slowly chip away at that lead. With Dartmouth down by eight (16-8), four Navy errors, kills by sophomore Mallen Bischoff and Meldrum and an ace by freshman Annemarie Horn made it a one-point set (16-15). Liddle and sophomore Tola Akinwumi added their own kills later on, but the Mids' 9-3 run wrapped things up (25-18).

Dartmouth and Navy tied the score nine times throughout the second set, the last being just three points away from victory. A Green error tied things up at 22-all, but three straight Dartmouth points gave the win to the visitors. Meldrum's kill pulled the Big Green ahead, while back-to-back Liddle kills made it a 1-1 match (25-22).

The third set was controlled by the Mids. Trailing by seven, a pair of kills by Liddle pulled Dartmouth within five points (15-10), but a 10-6 Navy run ended the set soon after (25-16). The fourth set was the closest and showcased some great volleyball by the Big Green. With the score tied at 3-3, a nine-point run that was highlighted by kills by sophomore Olympia Nagel-Caland (3), Liddle (2), freshman Emma Moffet and Cox put Dartmouth ahead, 12-3. Navy fought their way back and, after trading points, the teams were tied at 25-25. A Mid ace and kill concluded the match (27-25).

Dartmouth vs. Alabama

Meldrum, once again, led the team in points with her nine kills and three block assists, while senior Zoe Leonard and Liddle both had double-digit kills with 11 and 10, respectively.

"We learned a lot about ourselves and what we have to work on this week and be prepared for next weekend," Doron said. "I was proud of how we handled this weekend, how mature we were and how much we learned about what we can be if we apply these lessons."

The Green came out aggressively to start the first set, taking a 4-2 lead following kills by junior Abby Kott, Meldrum and Bischoff, but six in a row by the Crimson made it an 8-4 set in Alabama's favor. Dartmouth worked its way back, getting within a few points multiple times before the Crimson would pull away again. Trailing by three (16-13), the Big Green added a few more points before the set went to Alabama (25-17).

The Crimson were in control of the second and jumped out to a 9-3 lead, but a 7-3 Dartmouth run after kills by Akinwumi, Bischoff, Liddle and Meldrum made it a two-point set (12-10). The Big Green lost a little momentum following a 5-0 Alabama run, but used some Crimson errors and a Liddle kill to get back in the game (19-14). Dartmouth continued to get closer and got within three points before Alabama ended it (25-20).

There were three ties and three lead changes to start the third set. An ace by Bischoff tied the score at 12-12, but a 10-1 run on the other side of the net put the Crimson within three points of another win (22-13). Three Alabama errors and an Akinwumi kill made it a 22-17 set, while three more Crimson points concluded the match (25-17).

Next weekend, the Green will host the two-day, four-team, six-match Dartmouth Invitational, welcoming Boston College, Lafayette and Siena to Hanover.