As over 400 painted and shouting Dartmouth students looked on, the Dartmouth women's volleyball team advanced its season record to 9-2 with a 3-1 victory over Harvard on Friday. The game scores were 25-17, 20-25, 25-16, 25-11, respectively.
The Big Green, fueled by the animated crowd, took the court with an energy that translated into an early 6-2 run. By the time the score reached 9-3, Harvard was forced to call a timeout. The timeout did not stop subsequent kills by Madeline Baird '12 and Annie Villanueva '12, which only upped Dartmouth's lead further and led the way to a 25-17 win.
Villanueva is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.
The second game exhibited much more back-and-forth in the score, particularly early on. Four straight errors by the Big Green gave Harvard an 11-10 lead a lead that the Crimson refused to give up. While a kill by Meghan Cooney '14 brought Dartmouth within one point at 21-20, Harvard went on to take the next four points and the win.
"I think we got a little tight and nervous after we won the first game," head coach Ann Marie Larese said. "We allowed the emotionality of the night to get to us."
Both captain Jessie Hartman '11 and Larese agreed that once Harvard took the lead, it was hard for Dartmouth to come from behind and close the gap.
The Big Green came out in the third game ready to terminate the momentum of the hopeful Crimson. They did so by quickly taking a five-point lead. When Harvard came within two points at 16-14, the team, led by the serves of Kendall Houston '12, took five points in a row. The Big Green did not look back until the game was theirs.
Dartmouth carried its winning momentum into the fourth game, in which the women took the lead from the get-go and did not give it up. Throughout the game, Dartmouth led by as many as 14 points with Lexi Campbell '13 ending the game with an ace.
"I was happy with the way we played, but I still think we could have played better," Hartman said of the game.
Larese agreed, adding that it was still a solid performance for the team.
"I don't think it was our overall best game in terms of performance, but it was steady, and that's what we needed," she said.
Baird, Houston and Amber Bryant '12 all racked up double figures during the game. Baird and Houston both recorded double-doubles, Baird with 14 kills and 15 digs and Houston with 11 digs and a season-high 45 assists. Bryant led the way in digs, expertly scooping up 20 of them. Elisa Scudder '14 led in blocks with four. Dartmouth hit .265, holding strong to a meager .097 by Harvard.
Looking ahead, the team will work on coming out strong from the beginning of the set, according to Hartman.
"We find that if we come out stronger in the beginning, then we're more successful," she said.
Noting the distributed attack that the team has already established, Larese stressed the importance of shot selection.
"If we can get double-digit kills out of more kids, then we can play quicker and score more points," Larese said.
Boasting its second-best start to a season in the past five years, Dartmouth takes on Providence College at home on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. The team is also set to take on Harvard again this coming weekend.
"I think it's great that we have a match between the two Harvard matches," Larese said, noting that it will give the women a chance to practice and to work on an alternative rotation.
Providence is a feisty team that will be tough to play in the middle of the week, but Hartman said she is not nervous.
"We're confident with the way we're playing," she said.
Larese also said she feels confident going into the Harvard game.
"Harvard will be prepared for us, and I have to believe that we're going to be more prepared," she said.
