Big Green Repeat as Dartmouth Invitational Champions

Saturday, September 10

Hanover, N.H.

12:30 PM

Dartmouth College

5-1,0-0Ivy League

Merrimack

2-4,0-0NEC

Merrimack

Dartmouth

Photo by: Doug Austin

Big Green Repeat as Dartmouth Invitational Champions

9/10/2022 9:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (Merrimack)Box Score (Hartford)Complete Highlights Photo Gallery

Wins over Merrimack and Hartford cemented the tournament title

By: Kyle Relf

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth volleyball team was crowned champion of the Dartmouth Invitational for the second year in a row Saturday night at Leede Arena after a pair of three-set wins over Merrimack and Hartford. The Big Green were the only squad to go unbeaten through both days. Ellie Blain and Ava Roberts were among the All-Tournament honorees.

Blain amassed a team-best 36 kills over four matches, while Roberts filled the stat sheet with a team-high 4.00 points per set.

"The home atmosphere was amazing for us," said head coach Gilad Doron. "I'm proud of the team for doing what we wanted to do through four matches and picking up four wins at home before next weekend."

Dartmouth 3, Merrimack 0

Dartmouth dominated Merrimack in three sets in the second match of Saturday's tournament slate after Siena took down Hartford in straight sets. Piper Stevens notched a team-high and season-best nine kills, hitting at a .385 clip. Makenzie Arent and Karen Murphy combined for 27 assists, while Arent led the category with 15. One of several freshmen to make significant contributions during the tournament, Molly Power led the team with three blocks.

The Big Green offense exploded for a .474 hitting percentage in the opening set, overpowering the Warriors 25-13. Taite Ryan smacked back-to-back kills as part of a 10-point run that gave Dartmouth a commanding 18-7 lead. Blain's kill, following an attack error by Merrimack sealed the opening game.

The second set was the closest of the three – the Big Green led by only one late in the game, but came up with eight of the final 10 points to stay on track for the three-set triumph. Stevens accounted for each of Dartmouth's final three points of the set - all with kills.

Dartmouth's 25-17 victory in the third set was highlighted by seven-point run that saw the Big Green's advantage balloon to eight points. The Dartmouth-dominated stretch included back-to-back aces by Ali Silva.

Dartmouth 3, Hartford 0

Not to be denied an undefeated weekend at home, Dartmouth was dominant once again in the nightcap as it stormed past Hartford in three sets. The Big Green registered a .403 hitting percentage, their highest since 2019. Amelia Gibbs was a big reason why – she posted nine kills with an eye-popping .818 percentage.

Dartmouth edged Hartford 25-17 in the first set. Early four and five-point runs set the tone for what would be another impressive performance on the home court. Both teams traded points later on in the set, but the hosts eventually finished with Gibbs' kill and Hartford's attack error.

The Big Green saw little resistance in the second set, racing to a quick 25-9 triumph. Hartford went on to earn three of the first four points in the final set, but a seven-point run, capped by a pair of Stevens aces, slammed the door on a potential comeback bid. Natalie Grover's kill and Emma Engstrom's ace put the finishing touches on Dartmouth's tournament title.

Dartmouth is set to compete in one final tournament before the Ivy League slate begins. The Big Green compete in the Seton Hall Invitational beginning Friday, Sept. 16 against NJIT.

In other tournament action, Siena topped Hartford in three sets and Lehigh earned a three-set win over Merrimack.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ellie Blain (Dartmouth)
Ava Roberts (Dartmouth)
Makenna Smith (Lehigh)
Sara Wagner (Siena)
Uzezi Ijoma (Hartford)
Sydney Green (Merrimack)