CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - The Dickinson volleyball team opened up their 2023 season on Friday night DeSales University Invitational looking to build upon the 2022 campaign that saw the Red and White secure a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs. Unfortunately, for the Devils they fell just shy of claiming victory in their opener dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision to the Rutgers-Camden Scarlet Raptors at Billera Hall on Friday night.

The two sides shared the opening dozen points of the match with DC getting scores from Alexa Barowski, Camille Dofiles, Emma Popham and Eliette Whittaker. RC then claimed four of the next six thanks to three DC miscues and a kill for Erica Nebrich to go on top 10-8. Kills by Jessica Currie and Popham brought the score even at 10-10, but then 5-1 Raptors charge ending on a kill from Dyamond Free made it 15-11. After three RC errors trimmed it to 15-13, a 5-2 push extended the margin to 20-15. Consecutive kills by Barowski and a solo for Currie coupled with a block from Whittaker aided a 6-3 DC run to cut it down to 23-21. Scores off the hands of Currie and Popham pulled the score to 24-23, before Kaliyah Moss put down the final kill of the set.

A kill by Popham and Whittaker along with a block from Barowski left the Devils behind by two early in the second at 5-3. DC then ripped off seven straight as Willow Palmer, Barowski and Currie each recorded a kill to move the Red and White in front 10-5. Five of the next seven belonged to RC allowing them to close within 12-10, before two kills by Mathilde Verbitsky and one from Popham gave the Devils a 17-13 edge. An ace by Palmer and a score off the hand of Currie kept the momentum on DC's side making it 20-13. However, a 7-2 romp by the Raptors trimmed the gap to 24-21, prior to Verbitsky slamming down the final point of the set. 

Scores from Amelia Kim, Barowski, Currie, Dofiles and Popham gave the Red and White a slim 6-5 edge to start the third, before RC tallied seven in a row to make it 12-6. Dickinson claimed five of the ensuing eight thanks to Popham and Verbitsky, but were only able to cut into the deficit by two (15-11). It would be the Raptors who would be the first to make it to 20 as an assisted block by Kaitlyn Parrish and Free opened the lead out to 20-13. Barowski, Kim and Palmer tried to keep the Devils afloat bringing it to 23-18, until an error and an ace gave Camden the set 25-18.

Dickinson was out of the gates fast to begin the fourth as kills from Barowski, Kim and Popham along with an ace for Palmer gave DC a 7-4 lead. After two straight from Rutgers, Currie, Dofiles, Popham and Verbitsky recorded points during an 8-6 push to open up a five-point cushion (15-10). Consecutive scores by Nebrich stemmed the tide for a moment, before Ann Marie Patterson, Barowski, Currie, Kim and Popham embarked on a 9-4 romp to stretch the advantage to double-digits 24-14. After a Dickinson error, a service error by Mia Owens forced a decisive fifth at 25-15.

The final frame belonged to Rutgers as kills by Isabella Choice, Free, Moss and Parrish handed the Raptors a 10-4 advantage. A score from Kim pulled DC to within five, but RC responded with five of the next seven points to secure the win at 15-7.

Red Devil Leaders
Kills - Popham (12), Barowski, Currie, Kim and Verbitsky (9)
Digs - Patterson (23), Kim (16), Palmer (12), Dofiles (11)
Assists - Palmer (23), Dofiles (16)

Scarlet Raptor Leaders
Kills - Moss (17), Nebrich (12)
Digs - Moss (21), Craig (14), Nebrich (13)
Assists - Andrews (19), Granieri (17)

Next on the Court
Dickinson (0-1) continues the DeSales University Invite tomorrow with two matches in Center Valley. First, the Red and White will take on Clarkson University at noon, before battling the host Bulldogs at 4pm.
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