BALTIMORE, Md. - William & Mary took the opening match of the 2019 season in five sets over the Quinnipiac Bobcats Friday morning, earning the team's first season opening win since 2016. Autumn Brenner commanded the offense dishing out 54 assists and added an ace and a block. Four members of the Tribe (Madeleine Bertz, Julia Brown, Kate Dedrick, and Lauren Merrill) reached the double-digit kill mark. 
 
The Tribe scooped a 25-15 first set win behind four kills and five digs from sophomore Lauren Merrill. William & Mary would drop a close 25-23 second frame that saw 10 ties and five lead changes. The Tribe would regain control in the third set as Merrill put down six more kills and Dedrick added four put downs herself in route to a 25-21 win. 
 
Once again, the Bobcats would answer taking a 25-17 fourth set to force a deciding 15-point frame. In the ultimate stanza, the Tribe bolted out to a 4-0 lead and coasted to a 15-10 win. Middle blockers Julia Brown and Madeleine Bertz each supplied four kills as the Green and Gold hit .400 in the final frame.
 
Quotable
"I thought our ball control led to a lot of offensive opportunities today, and our attackers capitalized, especially JB and Bertz in the middle. Kate Dedrick was solid throughout, killing almost half of her attempts. We made a lot of scrappy hustle plays and I love seeing that energy on the court. To face a similar situation as last year's first match of the season (also against a MAAC opponent) and pull through this time in five sets is a testament to our growth and belief in the team" said coach Tim Doyle. 

By the Numbers
The Tribe hit .242 as a team and had three sets of a .390 attack percentage or better. Four William & Mary players tallied double-digit kills (Dedrick, 15), (Merrill, 14), (Bertz, 11), (Brown, 11). Merrill added 11 digs for her fifth career double-double. Autumn Brenner dished out 54 assists, her fifth match of 50+ helpers in her career. Defensively the Tribe held Quinnipiac to single-digit kills in three of five sets. Freshman Anna Porter had 10 digs in her collegiate debut. 
 
Notes
With 54 assists in the match, Autumn Brenner reached the 1,790-mark making her eighth in William & Mary history. The win was the first season opening win for the Tribe since 2016 when the Green and Gold bested Clemson on the road.