Wallace's 10 kills helped Harvard to a 3-0 win over Dartmouth (Gil Talbot).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard women's volleyball team opened conference play in resounding fashion Friday night, defeating Dartmouth in straight sets at the Malkin Athletic Center. The victory came by scores of 25-16, 25-21 and 25-14.
Bolstered by 26 assists from Corinne Bain and 13 assists from Hannah Schmidt, Harvard (6-4, 1-0 Ivy League) posted a .346 team hitting percentage on the night, its second highest of the season. Kathleen Wallace led the way with 10 kills and a .562 clip while Grace Weghorst added nine kills. Caroline Holte contributed eight kills and a .400 hitting percentage as Bain and Jennifer Shults contributed seven kills apiece.
Natalie Doyle and Bain were at the forefront of the Crimson's defensive efforts as Dartmouth (7-5, 0-1 Ivy League) was limited to a .148 hitting percentage. Doyle totaled 16 digs on the evening as Bain chipped in 14 for her fourth double-double of the year.
The Big Green jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the first set and was on top, 11-7, as the midway point approached. Harvard bounced right back, however, and used a 6-0 run to go in front for good, 13-11. Holte and Shults each contributed two kills during the stretch which came with Kristen Casey at the service line. Leading 17-14, the Crimson embarked on an 8-2 run down the stretch and put frame away on a kill from Wallace, 25-16.
Harvard held a 7-4 advantage early in the second before a 10-3 spurt put the Big Green back on top, 14-10. The Crimson responded once again, this time using a 7-1 run to grab a 17-15 edge. Holte scored two more kills during this stretch and also teamed up with Weghorst for a block. Tied at 20, kills from Bain and Shults gave Harvard a 22-20 margin and a block from Shults and Holte gave the set to the Crimson, 25-21.
It was all Harvard in the third as a pair of kills from Holte and Casey sparked the Crimson to a 10-3 advantage. Three kills by Bain helped moved the score to 17-7 before Caroline Walters scored match point, 25-14.
Harvard returns to action next weekend as it embarks on its first Ancient Eight road trip of the year. The Crimson will first play at Yale Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. and will play at Brown Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m.
