The women's volleyball team wrapped up its season this past weekend with strong play at the Ivy League Tournament, as the young Big Green squad ended with another first for the Dartmouth squad --its first ever win at the Ivy Tournament.
That win came in the second match Dartmouth played over the weekend. The Big Green, seeded six for the tournament, prevailed over eighth-seeded Columbia in three tight games, 15-13, 16-14, 15-11.
The win showed little improvement over regular season play when Dartmouth beat Columbia in five games.
"It was a terrible game," Coach Ann Marie Larese said. "Both teams did not play well. We were fortunate to get three straight."
Latia Curry '98, playing off the bench for Danra Kazenski '99 who was injured last weekend at the Harvard Tournament, led the teams in kills. The middle blocker tallied 15 kills from 28 attempts, as well as adding seven assisted blocks.
Middle blocker Kai Enos '96 and outside hitters Alison McKinley '99 and Emily Hallenbeck '99 added 11 more kills each to help the team preserve the win.
Hallenbeck and McKinley dug 22 and 27 balls, respectively, while Captain outside hitter Carmen Schmitt '97 and setter Felicity Kolp '99 served up four and three aces, respectively.
"It showed a lot of the character of our team," Larese said. "It was double elimination and we had already lost to Yale."
In the first match of the tournament, Dartmouth faced third seed Yale. The Elis repeated their performance of this season's previous match against Dartmouth on Oct. 27 and downed the Big Green 0-3.
"We played great half-games," Larese said. "The first eight points of each game were great. Neither team really broke it open until that point. Unfortunately, Yale broke it three times."
Curry took the lead in kills during this match as well, posting nine. McKinley, Hallenbeck and Kolp played strong defense with 12, 11 and 10 digs.
"Latia did an excellent job. everyone in the League realizes what a force she is going to be," Larese said.
In the consolation match of the tournament, Dartmouth faced number one seed Cornell. Pennsylvania had upset the Big Red earlier in the weekend, sending them into the consolation round.
After dropping the first two games to Cornell, Dartmouth came back to win the third game. Dartmouth could not commit and fell in the final game. Dartmouth lost in four close games to Cornel with the scores of 12-15, 9-15, 15-12, 10-15.
"We were in every single game," Larese said. "To play that close with the number one seed is great. We got so much positive feedback from the other coaches. Unfortunately we didn't win but it was a great way to end."
McKinley gave her team 18 kills along with 32 digs. Hallenbeck and Curry each contributed 10 kills and Hallenbeck added 21 digs.
"Latia did such a great job keeping us in the game. And Felicity played great," Larese said.
The team's strength in defense showed in the 110 digs tallied during the match.
"The tournament shows how competitive this league is now that everyone is fully funded," Larese said.
In only its second season as a fully-funded varsity sport, the Big Green proved through its overall winning record that they are a force in the Ivy League.
