Big Green Split on Day One of Hartford Invitational

Friday, September 17

West Hartford, Conn.

12:00 PM

Dartmouth College

6-1,0-0Ivy League

Sacred Heart

6-4,0-0NEC

Sacred Heart

Dartmouth

Taite Ryan volleyball action versus New Hampshire

Junior Taite Ryan

Photo by: Doug Austin

Big Green Split on Day One of Hartford Invitational

9/17/2021 9:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Dartmouth volleyball fell to Sacred Heart before rebounding to defeat host Hartford on Friday

By: Charlotte Brackett

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Dartmouth volleyball team went 1-1 on the opening day of the Hartford Invitational, suffering its first loss of the season to Sacred Heart, 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 22-25, 12-25) before downing the host by the same score (25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 25-12).

In the two matches, Karen Murphy led in assists (49), while Ellie Blain was first in kills (31) and points (34.5), Emma Engstrom had a team-leading three aces and 39 digs, and Emma Moffet was first in total blocks (8).

"I thought we came out a bit flat this morning against Sacred Heart and we had to learn how to respond after a tough loss," head coach Gilad Doron said. "Tonight, we came out with a much better sense of urgency for each point and it showed in our passing, hitting and defensive game. Both Ellie and Taite played very well on both ends. I thought Kenzie and Karen ran a very balanced and smart offense and learned more about what we can do going forward. Engstrom played great D and had a great serving game at critical moments."

Dartmouth (6-1) vs. Sacred Heart (5-5)
What started off as a neck-and-neck set soon went in the Pioneers' favor. Tied at 11, an 8-2 rally by Sacred Heart put some distance between the teams (19-13). Moffet ended the run with a kill and opened the door to allow Dartmouth to cut into that lead following a host of Pioneer errors (21-18). Natalie Grover and Amelia Gibbs added kills, but Sacred Heart held on (20-25).

The Big Green had a great start to the second set, winning eight of the first 11 points off kills by Blain, Gibbs, Grover, Moffet and Bomi Ogunlari. It looked like the Pioneers were working their way back, but kills from Gibbs, Taite Ryan and Grover created more space (14-7). Sacred Heart got within three (21-18), before a trio of kills by Ryan, Gibbs and Grover and one last error gave the win to Dartmouth (25-18).

Another even start went the way of the Pioneers thanks to seven straight points (17-11). An 8-4 Big Green rally made up of kills by Grover and Blain, a handful of Sacred Heart errors and a Makenzie Arent ace made for a good game (21-21). The Pioneers ran away with it, winning all but one point, to end it (22-25).

Sacred Heart came out strong in the fourth, starting off with a 13-5 edge. Emma Sinclair, Moffet, Blain and Gibbs had kills, but the Big Green couldn't stop the Pioneers (12-25).

Dartmouth (7-1) vs. Hartford (2-9)
The first set was very close and no clear leader was established until the end of the set. Tied at 15-all, kills by Blain and a ball handling error by the Hawks put Dartmouth up by three (18-15). That lead didn't last, and the Hawks quickly made it a one-point set. From there, the Big Green ran with it, going on a 7-2 run to win it (25-19).

Set two started off on a good note and, after kills by Grover, Blain and Ogunlari and an ace by Engstrom, Dartmouth sported a 10-4 edge. The Big Green remained ahead and a 5-1 rally made up of a number or Hawk errors put the visitors up by eight (16-8). Hartford started to close the gap with four points in a row, but a 7-4 Green streak – comprised completely of kills – gave Dartmouth another victory (25-17).

The Hawks took the lead in the early parts of the third set, but a 4-0 run from kills by Piper Stevens and Blain and an error on the other side of the net put the Big Green ahead (15-13). Dartmouth stayed in front, but the Hawks soon tied it up (19-19). The Green kept it close and Ryan had a good run with three kills in a row, but it was Hartford that won (23-25).

Kills by Blain, Moffet, Arent and Ryan and six Hawk errors gave Dartmouth a big lead right off the bat (14-4). Hartford looked to cut that advantage down, but the Big Green had different ideas, and a 5-2 rally got Dartmouth close to victory (20-9). The Green made swift work of the rest of the set, wrapping things up with a kill by Ryan and one more error (25-12).

Dartmouth will end the weekend with a 4 p.m. match against Central Connecticut State on Saturday.