The Dartmouth women's volleyball captured third place in a tournament hosted by the Big Green this weekend in Leede Arena. Sparked by sharp defensive play which generated many second chances, the Big Green rattled off three consecutive wins on Saturday to push their record to 6-4.
Playing for third place on Saturday night, the Big Green defeated the Siena Saints in five games. After going down 5-2 early in the final game, Dartmouth rallied for five consecutive points.
Carmen Schmitt '97 served an ace to tie the game, and Ann Murray '00 gave the team an emotional lift with stuff block to put Dartmouth ahead 6-5. Dartmouth held on the rest of the way to wrap up third place, 12-15, 15-4, 13-15, 15-13, 15-10.
Coming into the tournament Dartmouth led the nation with an average of 22 digs per game, which is seven more digs than any other team in the country. After a season high 120 digs against Siena, the defense is showing no signs of giving in.
Sophomore Emily Hallenbeck led the Big Green with 29 digs, and Maria Stutsman y Marquez '98 and Janna Merryfield '00 were right behind her with 23 each.
Middle blocker Latia Curry '98 earned all-tournament honors for her seven block assists against Siena.
"Latia's blocks really got us fired up," Merryfield said.
"We proved to everyone that we could step up our play when it came down to crunch time," Danra Kazenski '99 said. "I think if we push like that in all of our matches, we should have a very successful season ... and our Ivy ranking will prove it."
Kazenski led the team with six solo blocks for the tournament.
The lone blemish of the weekend came at the hands of the Providence Lady Friars on Friday night.
"Providence was the best team in our pool, but we looked tired and sputtered," Coach Ann Marie Larese said.
Dartmouth won the first game, but lack of focus hurt the team as they lost in four games, 15-10, 9-15, 11-15, 9-15.
"We weren't focused the entire time," Murray said.
Outside hitter Alison McKinley '99 led with 20 kills, and totaled 52 for the tournament.
Providence went on to the finals, but lost to St. John's in three games. In its two-year existence, the eight team Dartmouth Invitational has twice been won by St. John's, which defeated Dartmouth in last year's finals.
Following the Big Green's loss Friday night, the Dartmouth women came out ready to play the following morning to secure its first home win of the season against the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut, 15-7, 15-4, 14-16, 15-7.
Felicity Kolp '99 had 15 digs to lead Dartmouth to victory.
Dartmouth dominated its second match of the day against the hapless UNH Wildcats. Coming into the tournament the Wildcats had lost seven straight with a 2-13 record.
Dartmouth won easily in three games, 15-3, 15-13, 15-4. Larese called it "our best match of the season."
Larese and several players point to the need for consistency and focus in order to be productive.
"We weren't focused the entire time when we lost to Providence College," Larese said. "When we are able to play consistently for the entire game, good things begin to happen for us."
"After Friday's rough start we finished as well as we could have," Larese added. "Our youth and our trouble focusing are hurting us."
Up next for the Big Green is a home match against Northeastern on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. in Leede Arena.
