Big Green Win Home Opener Over Bryant

Thursday, September 25

Hanover, N.H.

6:00 PM

Dartmouth College

3-7,0-0Ivy League

Bryant

8-8,0-0America East

Bryant

Dartmouth

9/25/2025 10:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Dan Richeal

HANOVER, N.H.—The Dartmouth volleyball team hosted Bryant in its home opener on Thursday night at Leede Arena. Dartmouth notched a four-set win over the Bulldogs for its first win of 2025.

Set One (W, 25-23)

Bryant had the first serve of the match, but it was the Big Green who took the first point as Kauany Gutz notched a kill to give Dartmouth a 1-0 lead. The Big Green never let the Bulldogs tie the set or take the lead. Dartmouth built the lead to as many as six on multiple occasions but held off a late Bulldogs rally to take the opening set.

The Big Green came out firing from all different directions as six members of the Big Green tallied a kill in the opening set. Gutz has a team high four kills in the set while Zori Brown, Sophia Zanca, and Maddie LaFata each had two kills. The Big Green totaled three blocks in the first set with Elle McCreery and Gutz each having two block assists, both Brown, and Zanca had one block assist. LaFata, Brown, and EllaMae Fitzgerald all tallied four digs in the first set as Dartmouth had 16 as a team.

Set Two (L, 25-19)

Roles were reversed in the second set as Dartmouth served, and Bryant took the first point and never gave up the lead. The Big Green called their first timeout with the score being 10-5 Bryant. Following the timeout, the Big Green cut the lead to three multiple times but could not recover as Bryant took the second set 25-19.

The trio of Brown, LaFata, and Zanca each had two kills in the set while Irmak Makasci and Gutz each added a kill. Sophia Gagnepain had six of Dartmouth's seven assists in the set while she also tallied a dig and an ace. Once again, the Big Green had three blocks as Gutz tallied a solo block and a block assist, McCreery, Ava Roberts, and Zanca each had a block assist.

Set Three (W, 26-24)

The third set was different then the first two sets as there were six ties and three lead changes. The two teams traded points to start the set as the score was 4-4 through the first eight points. The Big Green built a lead throughout the middle of the set and led by seven after 27 points. Dartmouth held on the lead to win the set 26-24 and took a 2-1 set lead.

LaFata led the way in the third set for the Big Green with six kills while Gutz notched four in the set. Makasci added notched a pair of kills, while Roberts, Fitzgerald, and Gagnepain each had a kill. Gagnepain had nine assists while Fitzgerald had four assists. The Big Green notched five blocks in the set including solo blocks from Gutz, Power, and Makasci. Power and LaFata paired up for a pair of blocks in the set.

Set Four (W, 25-22)

The Big Green and Bulldogs traded the first 10 points of the fourth set, following the 5-5 tie, the Big Green took the next three points to take an 8-5 lead. Bryant called timeout and then took an 11-10 lead which led to a Dartmouth timeout. Out of the timeout, Dartmouth stormed back and took a 16-13 lead which forced a second Bryant timeout. The teams kept trading points and battling until the final point. Dartmouth held a 24-22 lead and Gutz ended it with an ace.

For the second straight set, LaFata led the Big Green with four kills as seven players had a kill in the set. Brown had three kills while Gutz and Zanca each had two kills. Gagnepain once again had nine assists while Fitzgerald had four assists. Gagnepain led the team with six digs in the set while seven players tallied a dig.

LaFata had 14 kills to lead the Big Green while she tallied a double double with 12 digs. Gutz was right behind LaFata as she had 11 kills while Brown tallied seven kills. Gagnepain notched a career high 31 assists in the win while a pair of kills, three aces, and 14 digs. The Big Green notched a season high 11 blocks with four solo blocks. Dartmouth also tied its season high for aces with 10, Gutz, Gagnepain, and LaFata each had three while Makasci added one.

The Big Green return to Leede Arena on Sunday, Sept. 28 against Harvard at 4 PM to open Ivy League play.

Hear from Maddie LaFata and Sophia Gagnepain following tonight's win over Bryant!#GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/M74Kub9w1Y
— Dartmouth Volleyball (@DartmouthVBall) September 26, 2025

Head Coach Kevin Maureen Campbell on tonight's four set win over Bryant at Leede Arena!#GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/AJVZmaeRre
— Dartmouth Volleyball (@DartmouthVBall) September 26, 2025