Late Push Not Enough in 3-0 Loss at Brown

Friday, October 13

Providence, R.I. / Pizzitola Sports Center

5:00 PM

Dartmouth College

6-9,3-3Ivy League

Brown

13-3,4-2Ivy League

Dartmouth

Brown

Piper Stevens ’25

Photo by: Kyle Relf

10/13/2023 8:04:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Maddie LaFata led both sides with 11 kills in the nationally televised match

By: Kyle Relf

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Playing on national television for the second time in as many seasons, the Dartmouth volleyball team suffered a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 26-24) road loss to Brown on Friday evening in a match that was broadcast on ESPNU.

The Big Green dropped to 6-9 on the season and are now an even 3-3 in Ivy League play, while the Bears improved to 13-3 and 4-2 in the Ancient Eight.

Down two sets to none, Dartmouth looked primed to force a fourth when it held a 17-11 edge in the third. That was before Brown erupted for a 9-0 run, eventually grabbing a 22-19 lead and closing out the match.

Freshman Maddie LaFata shined for the Big Green, picking up 11-kills – one shy of tying her career high – at a .333 clip against the Bears, who rank among the top 25 nationally in opponent hitting percentage. Kauany Gutz had a team-high 11 digs in addition to her seven kills, and Karen Murphy led Dartmouth's setters with 19 assists. Brown's Beau Vanderlaan enjoyed an efficient eight-kill performance with five total blocks, while Cierra Jenkins went for a 25-assist, 11-dig double-double.

The first set was up for grabs when the Big Green cut the deficit to one (16-15) following consecutive kills from LaFata and Gutz. Those swings preceded a quick 3-0 Brown run, including back-to-back Victoria Vo aces, which proved costly. A late LaFata kill, followed by Ellie Blain's ace, had Dartmouth within two (24-22), but Kate Sheire's kill was the dagger.

The Bears led wire-to-wire in set two and had a commanding 16-8 advantage after a four-point run. The Big Green made a 4-0 spurt of their own later in the set to come within five (20-15) after a Makenzie Arent ace, but were unable to build their momentum as Amelia Gibbs' kill and a couple Brown service errors were the only points the visitors could muster before Kayla Griebl hammered home the winner at set point.

Two separate 4-0 runs were key in Dartmouth's strong start to the third set. Facing a 7-9 deficit, Ava Roberts came through with a kill before Molly Power and Piper Stevens joined forces for three straight blocks. Resurgent Big Green play, particularly from Power, continued as the sophomore notched a block and a kill as part of another four-point spurt that hiked Dartmouth's lead to 17-11. Brown's 9-0 sweep-saving run featured three aces and a kill from Mariia Sidorova.

Dartmouth's stretch of three straight matches against its fellow 2022 Ivy League Tournament participants concludes on Saturday with a trip to Yale. The match begins at 5 p.m. and the action will be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans can follow live stats via DartmouthSports.com.