Hempstead, NY - Freshman Maddie Appleton posted a season-high 31 digs to lead the Hofstra Volleyball team to a four-set victory over Dartmouth on Friday evening at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center. 

Appleton became the first Pride player to cross the 30-dig plateau in a match since Corrina Delgadillo tallied 38 against Elon on November 13, 2015. In addition, it was a season-high for a player in the CAA, besting the mark of 29 set by Gabrielle Eyl of Northeastern against Fairfield on September 8, 2018. 

Hofstra, which won by set scores of 20-25, 25-20, 25-19 and 25-23, improved to 9-3 with the win. Dartmouth, which swept Seton Hall earlier in the day in action at the Hofstra Invitational, falls to 3-5. 

Appleton was a star in the middle two sets, tallying 12 digs in the second stanza and adding 11 in the third set. Offensively, it was a balanced attack for Hofstra as junior Laura Masciullo posted 17 kills, while senior Michela Rucli and freshman Aisha Skinner each added 13. Skinner also had four blocks, while Rucli chipped in with three. Olympia Nagel-Caland and Nicole Liddle each had 13 kills for Dartmouth, while Zoe Leonard picked up 19 digs. 

Hofstra is back in action early on Saturday as the Pride will host Columbia at 10:30 a.m. before taking on Seton Hall at 7 p.m. to close tournament play. 

NOTES
- This was the first-ever meeting between Hofstra and Dartmouth. 
- Appleton's previous high in digs was 20 at Temple on August 25, 2018. 
- With her 17 kills in the match, Masciullo now has 994 kills and needs only six to become the 16th member of the 1,000-Kills Club at Hofstra.