Dartmouth Blanks North Carolina A&T in Season Opener

Friday, September 6

Asheville, N.C.

4:00 PM

Dartmouth College

1-0

North Carolina A&T State

0-4

Team	1	2	3	Final F
N.C. A&T	18	21	24	0
Dartmouth	25	25	26	3

Sophomore Nicole Liddle

Photo by: Doug Austin

Dartmouth Blanks North Carolina A&T in Season Opener

9/6/2019 5:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Big Green opened the UNC Asheville Invitational with a 3-0 victory

By: Charlotte Brackett

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Dartmouth volleyball opened the 2019 season with a win, defeating North Carolina A&T, 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 26-24) to kick off the UNC Asheville Invitational on Friday.

In her first collegiate match, freshman Makenzie Arent had 31 assists, eight digs and four kills, while sophomore Nicole Liddle had 13 digs, six kills and both of the Big Green's service aces, and junior Elise Petit recorded nine kills, one block assist and six digs.

"I am very pleased with our team's first match execution and how we were able to weather the momentum waves when we needed to," head coach Gilad Doron said. "I thought Kenzie and Grace were able to keep their composure in their first match wearing green. Elise and Nicole made good decisions and our middles did a nice job mixing their shots and setting the block. I thought Bella showed great leadership and got our passing game to give us a chance to run a solid, offensive game. I am excited to see what our team can grow into this season if we keep improving each week."

Dartmouth jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the first set thanks to kills by freshman Grace Wiczek (2), Arent, Liddle and sophomore Francesca Meldrum. The Big Green remained ahead until back-to-back N.C. A&T kills tied things up (12-12). That did not last long, as a pair of errors by the opponent broke the tie and gave Dartmouth a boost, allowing the Green to pull ahead by five (19-14). A 6-4 Dartmouth run, capped by an error by the Aggies, gave set one to the Big Green (25-18).

The start of the second set was close until a series of errors on the other side of the net and some kills by sophomore Emma Moffet, Wiczek and Petit put Dartmouth up by four (15-11). The Aggies continued to push and got within two points twice, but the Big Green held on to the lead. With a 21-18 advantage, kills by junior Tola Akinwumi and a trio by Petit made it 2-0 in Dartmouth's favor (25-21).

The beginning of the third set was very close and there were seven ties by the 10th point. With the Green narrowly ahead, six in a row by the Aggies gave them a 15-10 edge. Dartmouth fought back and a 9-2 run gave the lead back to the Big Green (19-17). The teams went back and forth until the score was tied at 23-all. One kill apiece made it a 24-24 set, while one more by Liddle and an Aggie error ended the match (26-24).

Dartmouth plays twice on Saturday, facing Eastern Kentucky at 10:30 a.m. and UNC Asheville at 6:30 p.m.