Dartmouth's first fully-funded women's varsity volleyball team lost last night in their first home match of the season to University of Vermont, 3-0. The team's record now stands as 1-3.
Vermont went into the match with a 2-12 record, having lost the past five games. Vermont dominated the match throughout the first two games, winning both, 15-2 and 15-5, respectfully.
The first game had the teams matched evenly. Dartmouth and Vermont battled out each play in the first few minutes, usually ending the point with a side out.
The game began to roll for Vermont not long after the start of the first game. Needless errors, including net fouls and double hits, cost Dartmouth several points. Vermont responded with fewer errors than Dartmouth and quickly stacked up the points.
Vermont closed the first game with an ace by senior Alison Breed leaving the final score at 15-2.
The second game started out much like the first; Vermont made several careless errors. Dartmouth's captain, Candice Jimerson '95, came up with a great block which raised team morale somewhat.
Vermont was able to take over the game again, however. Breed began the run with a kill.
One of Dartmouth's main problems throughout the game was serving. The team lost possession several times due to failed serves, resulting from the ball either hitting the net or going out of bounds.
A Dartmouth error late in the second game gave Vermont the second win of the night, allowing them to beat the Big Green 15-5.
The third game saw much progress in Dartmouth's self-confidence. Vermont's hitting skills decreased, and Dartmouth took advantage of this opportunity to pick up its game.
As Dartmouth picked up the pace, it was able to pull up from a 2-8 deficit to tie up the game. Erin Dawkins '97 had two aces in a row bringing the score up to 4-9. Jimerson followed up Dawkins's effort with three kills and a block in a matter of minutes.
This sudden surge of energy ignited the Big Green to begin playing their game. Kills were made by both Dawkins and Carmen Schmitt '97, and Kai Enos '96 made several excellent blocks.
Unfortunately, Vermont was able to parallel Dartmouth's efforts. Outside hitter Kathryn Burdette came up with a key kill to put Vermont ahead, 14-13. Vermont ended up finishing the game 15-13, which ended the match at 3-0.
"We were coming off five losses. This was a big win for us," Vermont head coach Edz Sturans said. "We really wanted to come out strong and we did. We were able to control the game. In the third game Dartmouth picked up and made us play harder."
"We didn't come out to play," Dartmouth head coach Ann Marie Larese said after the game. "Some of it is nerves, but by the second game it's not nerves anymore. It's our inability to play like we do in practice. The more we practice at a higher level, the sooner we'll be comfortable [at that level]. Our biggest weakness is our confidence and momentum. We need to get it earlier and keep it longer."
"In the first and second game we didn't play our game. By the third game we showed we can play with this team. We missed the opening game fire. We were so excited to play that it caused us not to play to our level," Captain Jimerson said. "It's tough because we didn't know what we were doing wrong. Our hits weren't going down and our serves weren't going in. It's frustrating when you know what you are doing wrong, but when you don't know, it's even more frustrating."
Both Jimerson and Schmitt made significant plays for Dartmouth while Breed and Burdette were key players for Vermont.
"We all know that our team can be good," Jimerson said. "We will be good. It's just a matter of time and a matter of everyone on the team wanting to do it at the same time."
