Comeback Falls Short in Four-Set Loss at Princeton

Friday, November 10

Princeton, N.J. / Dillon Gymnasium

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

8-14,5-8Ivy League

Princeton

13-8,10-3Ivy League

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Dartmouth	16	21	25	22	1
Princeton	25	25	23	25	3

Photo by: Kyle Relf

Comeback Falls Short in Four-Set Loss at Princeton

11/10/2023 9:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Big Green won the third set to stay alive, but couldn’t continue their momentum

By: Kyle Relf

PRINCETON, N.J. — Despite hitting well over .300 in two of the four sets played against Princeton, the Dartmouth volleyball team suffered a 3-1 (25-16, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22) road loss to the Tigers on Friday evening at Dillon Gymnasium.

Dartmouth, now eliminated from Ivy League Tournament contention, dropped to 8-14 overall with a 5-8 conference mark. Princeton, a soon-to-be tournament participant, reached double digit Ancient Eight victories (10-3) and hiked its overall record to 13-8.

The Big Green were down two sets to none and responded to claim a close third. Dartmouth even held a slight edge late in the fourth and was threatening to force a fifth, but Princeton slammed the door with two of Kamryn Chaney's match-high 25 kills.

Even with Ellie Blain and Kauany Gutz both recording double-digit kills, Chaney's quarter-century kill total and .417 hitting percentage was too much to overcome. Only four teams this season have hit better against the Tigers than the Big Green, who registered a .270 hitting percentage. Molly Power, Piper Stevens and Amelia Gibbs were each driving forces behind the solid offensive showing, all recording five or more kills and hitting .350 or better. Dartmouth's defensive efforts were guided by 10-dig performances from EllaMae Fitzgerald and Stevens.

Needing a win to stay alive in the tournament hunt, the Big Green came through with a much-needed victory in set three thanks to a .324 hitting percentage. Princeton had a 21-19 edge and looked primed for the sweep, but a 4-0 run that featured kills from Power and Maddie LaFata, along with a Karen Murphy ace, had Dartmouth with a 23-21 advantage. LaFata contributed two more kills, one to deliver set point, and another that served as the set winner.

Dartmouth's 4-0 start to the fourth set was derailed by a 7-1 Tiger run, but once the bleeding was stopped with Blain's kill, neither side led more than two as the Ivy League foes traded points down the stretch. Gutz's kill gave the Big Green a 21-20 lead, but Princeton would turn to Chaney to power a 5-1 run that ended the match.

The Big Green's strong offensive showing in the first set was outshined by Princeton's .469 hitting percentage. A 9-1 run proved to be a backbreaker for Dartmouth in the first.

In the second, it was another late Tiger run that was costly. Clinging to a 21-19 lead, the Big Green saw Princeton take each of the game's final six points to take the commanding 2-0 lead.

Dartmouth's season concludes on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Penn. The match starts at 5 p.m. and fans can stream the action live on ESPN+, and follow live stats through DartmouthSports.com.