Capitalizing on big leads and closing out sets have definitely been problems for Dartmouth volleyball (6-6) throughout this young season.
There was no finer example of this struggle than Tuesday night's crushing five-set, non-conference loss (30-27, 30-25, 27-30, 29-31, 11-15) to the 13-2 Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State at Leede Arena.
After Dartmouth claimed the first two sets, the Blue Devils came roaring back into the match, stepping up their defense, cutting down on errors, and improving their attack, as outside hitter Chantelle Bowden put down powerful kill after powerful kill, tallying a game-high 23 for the match.
Said Dartmouth outside hitter Sarah Nadler '06, who led the team with 18 kills at a .421 hitting percentage to go along with 20 digs, "We were so close. We see the finish line. We just need to get there first."
Despite the match's turnout, it was Dartmouth that was able to erase a deficit in the first game. Down 20-25 and 22-26, the Big Green managed to turn the game completely around on the strong jump serve of captain and outside hitter Kainoa Fialkowski '04. The team reeled off seven consecutive points, taking a 29-26 lead, on their way to winning the game.
This run was highlighted by outstanding sequences by Fialkowski, in which she twice recorded a serve, dig, and a backcourt kill on the same play.
Dartmouth rode the momentum of the first game into the second, jumping out to a quick 11-3 advantage and cruising the rest of the way.
What appeared would be a much-needed, easy victory for the Big Green, however, suddenly became a battle in the third game. Despite strong hitting by right side hitter Lindsay Sheffield (14 kills) and Nadler, Dartmouth trailed throughout most of the set, committing numerous errors and struggling to cover the Blue Devils' tips. Despite a late charge, narrowing an 18-25 deficit to 26-28, Central Connecticut State recovered to take the game.
In the fourth, the match's most exciting game, the lead changed hands throughout. Both teams stepped up their net play at the end of the set. Tremendous blocking by Nadler and Sandi Beutler '07, the team's only starting freshman, allowed the Big Green to take a 29-27 advantage. Dartmouth, however, was again unable to shut that proverbial door and capitalize on two match points.
The Blue Devils tallied four straight points to take the set and even the match, including an uncovered tip and two hard kills by Bowden.
The fifth game was more of the same for the Big Green. After jumping out to a 10-7 lead on the blocking of middle blocker Nadine Parris '06 and hitting of Nadler, Dartmouth suddenly collapsed, committing three consecutive errors and losing six consecutive points as the Blue Devils took a commanding 13-10 lead. The match ended in fitting fashion, as the Big Green was once again unable to dig up a tip after the longest rally of the contest.
Said Parris about Dartmouth's inability to close out games, "I don't think it'll be a problem. We will have bumps in the road, but I don't see any part of our game holding us back during the season. It hasn't been a huge problem before and shouldn't bother us in the future."
The Big Green returns to action on Friday night at 7 p.m. in Leede Arena in the long-awaited Ivy League home opener versus arch-rival Harvard. After falling in four sets to the Crimson last Friday night, the team is eager to return to its winning ways and avenge the loss.
"We're really confident," added Parris. "Both teams are pretty similar and we know what to expect against them. We're big rivals, it's a big match, and we're excited to play."