Sometimes the scoreboard does not tell the whole story.
Hard fought points, tightly played sets and incredible team determination cannot be captured in numbers. The 6-1 team loss that the Big Green endured Wednesday afternoon at Harvard was the epitome of this phenomenon.
In doubles play, captain Holden Spaht '96 returned to his familiar position, teaming up with Jim Rich '96 at the number one position. The two did not click, however, probably due to Spaht's three-week absence from doubles play due to a nagging rib injury. The two dropped the match 8-5.
The Big Green went on to take the second doubles match 8-5, behind the strong play of Matt Fuller '97 and Avery Rueb '98.
In the rubber match, the freshmen tandem of Erich Holzer and Gabe Sauerhoff could not pull out the win and the team point, losing 8-5.
While all three matches were closely played, the Big Green found themselves down 1-0.
The going did not get any easier in singles action. The 24th-ranked Crimson tenaciously fought off five of Dartmouth's six attempts at forging the upset.
The crucial points in singles play came down to two three-set losses for the Big Green.
At the one spot, Rich went down 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, and at number five, Sauerhoff lost 1-6, 7-6, 7-6.
"We were definitely in the match until a couple of the three setters broke down," Coach Charles Kinyon said. "We needed to be very mentally tough at that point and play extremely focused. Jim's and Gabe's third set losses put it out of reach. If they would have been able to step up and win those matches, I feel confident that Avery would have hung on for the final and fourth point at number six."
The Big Green's lone dent on the scoreboard came when Fuller defeated his opponent in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Rounding out singles action, Spaht, Holzer and Rueb all went down in straight sets.
The loss put Dartmouth out of the race for the EITA title, but it still has two meets remaining this weekend.
Returning to the friendly confines of the Topliff courts, the Big Green will face Cornell and Army today and tomorrow, respectively. The team looks to go out on a positive note and build momentum for another title run next year.
