The women's volleyball team set a new record at Dartmouth for number of wins in a season this past Tuesday. The team squelched a two-game losing streak, defeating the University of Vermont 3-0. The win improved Dartmouth's record to 13-8 overall this season.
The team broke the record set by the 1990 squad.
Coming off of losses to both Harvard and Northeastern last week, Dartmouth put its game together and finished off Vermont in three decisive games, 15-3, 15-9, 15-6.
"It wasn't the greatest we've played all year, but it was the best we've played in the past three weeks," Coach Ann Marie Larese said.
Both starting outside hitters Alison McKinley '99 and Erin Clarke '99 were back to play in all three games of the match. McKinley and Clarke were unable to complete the Harvard game on Oct. 17 due to a knee injury and sickness. Neither played during the Northeastern game on Oct. 19.
"[McKinley and Clarke] were a little rusty, but it was certainly good to have them back," Larese said.
Dartmouth improved over the last time it faced the Catamounts. Back on September 26, Dartmouth defeated Vermont but took the match to four games, dropping the first game 15-11. Dartmouth took the next three games with almost identical scores as Tuesday's match, 15-9, 15-4, 15-6.
"We making improvements," Larese said. "This match was over in 55 minutes."
Larese noted improvements in both serve-receive and serving, two aspects of Dartmouth's game which had been lacking in recent matches. "We moving in the right direction," Larese said. "We're also working on shot selection."
Outside hitter Emily Hallenbeck '99 and McKinley led the team with kills, tallying six each. McKinley also led with four service aces and eight digs. Middle blocker Danra Kazenski '99 had four blocks of her own on the night.
Together, Captain and outside hitter Carmen Schmitt '97 and setter Felicity Kolp '99 mirrored McKinley's service aces, each taking two. Outside hitter Stasia Bochnowski '98 had six digs.
Dartmouth plays its last two regular season games at home in Leede Arena this weekend. Both games are Ivy League games.
The Big Green will challenge the Yale Elis at 7:00 p.m. tonight. The Elis are 13-6 overall, 3-2 in the Ivy League.
"If we can have a good showing aganst Yale, we'll have our confidence up [for Saturday]," Larese said. "Yale has a lot of older kids and one really good freshman. They play a quick offense."
Tomorrow at 4:00 p.m., Dartmouth will face Brown. At present, Brown is tied with Dartmouth in the Ivy League at 1-4 and stands below Dartmouth overall at 3-14.
"Whoever wins this match will go into the Ivy Tournament ranked six, and whoever loses will be ranked seventh," Larese said. "Brown is having a total building year. It will be a battle of the babies."