Dartmouth Falls to Harvard, 3-0; Teams Share League Lead

Friday, October 23

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

9-8, 6-2

Harvard

10-8, 6-2

Harvard

Dartmouth

Dartmouth Falls to Harvard, 3-0; Teams Share League Lead

10/23/2015 8:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. – Dartmouth volleyball fell to Harvard in straight sets (19-25, 17-25, 19-25) at Leede Arena on Friday evening.

The Crimson ended the Big Green's five-match winning streak that had encompassed the entire month of October. Dartmouth is now 9-8 overall and 6-2 in Ivy League play, while Harvard improved to 10-8 and 6-2 in conference action. The two teams are now tied for first in the league.

Freshman Sierra Lyle and junior Emily Astarita led the team with eight kills, while both senior Kayden Cook and junior Stacey Benton had 13 assists apiece. Freshman Zoe Leonard had 10 digs.

“This was a really well-played volleyball match,” head coach Erin Lindsey said. “Harvard executed their offense extremely well and it was a bit too much for us to handle. We came out with a lot of energy and a lot of fight. Our serve receive passing was strong, but we just weren't finishing our attacks.

Harvard did a really good job staying very aggressive and getting us out of system,” Lindsey continued. “Sierra had a very solid performance, both passing and attacking from the outside. We are looking forward to getting back to work this week.”

The Crimson took the lead early in the first and held it, but it looked as if the Green could turn things around in the middle of the set. Trailing, 18-10, Benton served seven straight points (three Harvard errors, a kill apiece by Astarita, Lyle and senior Alison Brady, and an ace by Benton) to get within two (18-16). Dartmouth stayed in reach, but two straight points gave Harvard the win.

A number of four-point runs gave the visitors another victory in the second set. The third set was closer, as Dartmouth won the first two points off an error on the other side of the net and a kill by Lyle. The Green maintained a small lead until the Crimson tied the score at six, at which time the two teams traded points, tying six times before four straight gave Harvard a 16-12 edge. Dartmouth got within one (19-18) off a Brady kill, an ace by Leonard and a Crimson error, but six straight points – separated only by an error of their own – gave the match to Harvard.

Next weekend, the Green will be on the road, facing Princeton at 7 p.m. on Friday and Penn at 5 p.m. the next day.