Comeback Falls Short Against Columbia for Dartmouth VB

Saturday, October 9

Hanover, N.H.

4:00 PM

Dartmouth College

COLUMBIA

Comeback Falls Short Against Columbia for Dartmouth VB

10/9/2010 6:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. - The Dartmouth women's volleyball team fell behind, 0-2, for the second consecutive day, but this time the Big Green didn't have quite enough of a comeback as they lost to Columbia, 3-1, at Leede Arena on Saturday. The loss drops Dartmouth to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

Similar to its start on Friday, Dartmouth looked flat in the first two sets as the Lions took both, 25-20. The third appeared to be more of the same, but the Big Green found themselves after they fell behind, 12-8. The squad went on a five-point run to turn a four-point deficit into a one-point advantage. The Lions didn't back down though and stayed with the Big Green and eventually tied the contest at 21 apiece. Dartmouth held on as it won four of the last five points, highlighted by two Kelsey Johnson (Carlsbad, Calif.) kills, to win the set.

The fourth set was up and down as both teams looked like they were in control at different points. The Big Green took two of the first three points, but Columbia was up for the challenge and took control of the set by going up 11-7. The Big Green attempted to close the gap, and finally scored four consecutive points, on four kiils, to take a 20-19 lead. Again, the Lions came back and gained a 24-22 lead with a chance to serve for the match. Junior Madeline Baird (Austin, Texas) countered with a kill to bring Dartmouth within one. With a chance to tie, the Big Green's last attack was blocked, and it ended the match as Columbia won the fourth, 25-23.

The Dartmouth offense was spread out as four different players had double-digit kills. Johnson led the team with 19 on a .444 hitting percentage. Junior Annie Villanueva (Santa Barbara, Calif.) recorded 13 with a .407 hitting percentage. Baird kept her double-digit kill streak in tact with 12 to go along with 20 digs. Freshman Elisa Scudder (Ashburn, Va.) recorded 10 kills. Junior Amber Bryant (Libertyville, Ill.) led the team with 24 digs and sophomore Alissa Santa Maria had 28 assists.

Columbia was led by Megan Gaughn who racked up 26 kills on 79 attempts. Katherine Keller had a match-high 27 digs and Colleen Brennan led the Lions with 31 assists. Columbia improves its record to 10-4 overall and 2-2 in the Ivy League.

The loss ends a four match winning streak for Dartmouth, and it was the first loss in conference and at home this season. The Big Green look to rebound when they travel to Penn on Friday, Oct. 15, for a 7:00 pm gametime.