Big Green Best Cornell in Three Sets

Friday, November 4

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

15-6,7-4Ivy League

Cornell

4-16,2-9Ivy League

Cornell

Dartmouth

Photo by: Doug Austin

11/4/2022 9:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights

Dartmouth has won five of its last six and three straight at Leede Arena

By: Kyle Relf

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth volleyball team, winners of five of the last six, rolled to a 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 25-23) victory over Cornell Friday evening at Leede Arena to complete the season sweep of the Big Red.

On the eve of Senior Night, Dartmouth improved to 15-6 (7-4), while Cornell dropped to 4-16 (2-9). With fifth-place Harvard's loss to Columbia, the Big Green have clinched a spot in the first-ever Ivy League Tournament.

Grace Wiczek continually came through with crucial swings and led Dartmouth with 12 kills at a .375 clip. Bomi Ogunlari and Piper Stevens also enjoyed efficient evenings, going for nine and six kills respectively with hitting percentages over .450. Makenzie Arent dished out 21 assists, while Taite Ryan record 10 digs. Dartmouth hit .278 as a team to Cornell's .160.

"We came out with great energy and served very well to run away with the first set," said head coach Gilad Doron. "We had slow starts in sets two and three, but we were able to find ways to make big plays to close the match against a very tough Cornell team. I hope we come with the same mindset and execute the gameplan tomorrow on Senior Night."

The Big Green set the tone early with a 25-12 victory in the first set. Three straight kills put them on top in the game's opening points and Dartmouth, who ranks 15th in the nation in aces per set, strung together three aces thanks to Ellie Blain's work at the service line to lead 12-5. A four-point run with kills by Wiczek, Ogunlari and Blain preceded Amelia Gibbs' back-to-back set-sealing winners.

Cornell battled until the final points of the second set, which featured nine different ties. Overcoming a slow start, Dartmouth tied the set 11-11 after trailing by as many as four early on. The Big Green weren't able to claim the lead, though, until Wiczek's kill had them on top, 21-20. Kauany Gutz, who notched a career-high 15 kills in the last meeting of the two teams, followed Wiczek with another kill. Errors marked the final three points and doomed the Big Red.

A nine-point run had Cornell in control early on in the third set, Dartmouth quickly responded by reeling off six straight points to reach a 10-10 stalemate. The Big Green looked ready to take over when Arent's ace followed Piper Stevens' kill, allowing Dartmouth to hold a 16-13 advantage. Cornell, however, earned six of the next eight points and handed Dartmouth a one-point deficit, 19-18. Kills by Gibbs and Blain powered the Big Green to tie and take the lead and after trading points down the stretch, Ogunlari's kill delivered match point and an attack error did in the Big Red.

Dartmouth is back in action at Leede Arena Saturday at 5 p.m. against Columbia. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Jeremy Stout on the call, and the program will honor its five seniors prior to the start of the contest.