Entering the series of games with a 7-3 record, Dartmouth returned home 7-8 on the season. The five consecutive defeats ended a five-match win streak achieved on home turf throughout February.
Despite the losses, the Big Green did receive a spark from the play of Rashaad Elder-Bush '06 and Jeff Schechtman '08, who won four of their five matches in doubles.
In its first contest, the team fell 6-1 to No. 48 Utah in Rancho Valencia on March 18. Elder-Bush picked up the lone point for Dartmouth, defeating Utah's Dan Mascall, 7-5, 6-4 at No. 6 singles.
The senior captured a second victory for the Big Green when he and his new partner Schechtman earned an 8-1 victory at No. 3 doubles. However, with wins at first and second doubles, Utah picked up the doubles point.
On the next day, Dartmouth faced Pacific at Huntington Beach, Calif. Even though the team started well by picking up the doubles point, it did not manage to win another one in a 6-1 defeat. Dave Waslen '07 and Steve McGaughey '07 teamed up to win the No.1 doubles match-up 9-8, while Elder-Bush and Schechtman recorded yet another win, dealing an 8-6 performance to Pacific's No. 3 doubles pair.
On March 21, Elder-Bush and Schechtman notched the only victory in Dartmouth's 7-0 loss to No. 31 University of San Diego. They were victorious at No. 3, defeating Oscar Plotnik/Chris Coetzee 8-7.
However, Pierrick Ysern/Thomas Liversage defeated Waslen/McGaughey 8-6 at No. 1, while Mirza Koristevie/Jonas Mouly bested Raj Shrestha '06/Ari Gayer '09 8-5 at No. 2 to give USD the doubles point.
In singles play, Dartmouth players lost all of the matches without winning a single set. Schechtman came close but lost 7-5, 7-5 against Plotnik at No. 2, while Ysern defeated Waslen 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1.
Even though Dartmouth lost its next match against Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, the Big Green players' improved their performances and put up a serious fight.
Elder-Bush and Schechtman won their fourth consecutive doubles match at No. 3, defeating Michael Chan/Nico Terrien 8-4. However, Marymount won 8-2 at No. 1 and 8-6 at No. 2 to secure the doubles point.
LMU went up 3-0 after winning two-set victories in the next two matches. Terrien defeated Waslen 6-2, 7-6 in the battle of the top seeds, while Carlos Malet won 6-4, 6-4 against Elder-Bush at No. 6.
Dartmouth was back in the game after dramatic three-set victories by No. 5 seed McGaughey and No. 2 seed Schechtman. However, it was Reyniere Roxas' 7-6, 6-3 victory over Shrestha at No. 3 that brought LMU up 4-2 and gave it the win.
Gayer won the third point for Dartmouth when he dramatically defeated Linas Cicenas at No. 4, 7-5, 3-6, 10-6.
Dartmouth's last match on its one-week trip was on March 25 against the University of California in Santa Barbara. After the match was delayed due to rain, the Gauchos won all three doubles matches by a very close margin to claim the doubles point.
Waslen/McGaughey and Travis Maiers '07/Robbie Lim '08 both lost their matches 8-6 at No.1 and No. 3, respectively. The Elder-Bush/Schechtman duo was promoted to the No. 2 spot in doubles after their brilliant performances over the week, but dropped a very tightly contested 9-8 decision.
The only Dartmouth victory of the day came when Gayer defeated Thorstensen 6-4, 6-4. In the remaining games, McGaughey was the only Big Green player to win a set for Dartmouth in his No. 5 match against Max Taylor (6-4, 3-6, 6-1). UCSB players won all the other matches easily in two sets, giving them a 6-1 win on the day.
After dropping to 7-8 on the season, Dartmouth will look to even its record today against Division III powerhouse Middlebury. The Big Green will host the match at 5:30 p.m.
The team has performed well at home this season, winning all five of its winter matches in Hanover.
