The women’s volleyball team had mixed results this weekend, splitting its conference matches. Friday, they fell to conference-leading Harvard, but on Saturday they recovered with a win against Dartmouth.
Harvard ousted Bruno (9-13, 4-6 Ivy) in four sets, winning 3-1. This season’s second matchup was very different than the Oct. 4 game, when the Bears shut out the Crimson Oct. 4 by a score of 3-0. Taylor Bantle ’15 said the Bears began with a strong first game, but then “started playing more individually.” Though Brown opened with a lead in the third frame and tied it up in the fourth, they could not secure a win in either set.
Maddie Lord ’15 led the team in kills, securing 11 against the Crimson. Payton Smith ’17 stepped up as well, contributing seven blocks. Despite these contributions, Bantle said Harvard capitalized on the Bears’ weaknesses — Brown played better as a team the first time it battled the Crimson this year, she said.
Saturday was a chance for redemption, after the Bears lost to the Big Green in a tight 3-2 loss on Oct. 3.
Bruno proved its persistence and strength, coming away with a 3-1 win Saturday night. The Bears claimed the first two sets, but the Big Green responded with a win in the third. Brown finished them off in the fourth with a 25-21 victory.
“Staying in control and keeping our focus throughout the whole match is what got us the win against Dartmouth,” said Katherine Conner ’15.
Smith came through once again, leading the team with 13 kills and six blocks. Conner added 23 digs and Sarah Lucenti ’17 posted a double-double with 23 assists and 11 digs.
Though these individual stats were critical to Bruno’s win, Conner said the win “was a full team effort, every single player contributed something.”
With the season nearing its end, Conner said the type of team effort exhibited against Dartmouth “will give us an opportunity to end our Ivy season on a high note.”
The next four opponents the team faces are all strong in blocking but also very beatable, so “we are very motivated,” Bantle said.
ADVERTISEMENT
