The men's volleyball team finished up a hectic week of competition that began last weekend at the Roger Williams College Tournament in Rhode Island.
The Big Green's first match was against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dartmouth beat M.I.T. three games to two. The 15-10, 12-15, 15-8, 13-15, 15-11 victory gave the squad its second win of the season against MIT.
The following match against State University of New York at Newpaltz also went to five games. But Dartmouth was overpowered 15-13, 11-15, 9-15, 14-16, 15-17 by Newpaltz's two starters who stood well over 6-foot-5 inches.
"They were just too strong at the end," Scott said.
The two long matches within the Big Green's bracket were a fitting beginning to what would be a very long day.
There was little rest for any of the schools as the tournament round began directly following the bracket matches.
Sacred Heart College was Dartmouth's first victim on the road to the finals, falling in straight games, 15-8, 15-7, 15-10.
Concordia College of Bronxville, N.Y. was the next to fall. It took the Big Green four games to dispense Concordia in a 15-10, 12-15, 15-12, 15-13 win.
In the final round, the squad faced earlier opponent, SUNY Newpaltz. Again, the team was unable to respond to Newpaltz's power game. The final score was 10-15, 9-15, 13-15, 6-15. Aside from a 30-minute dinner break, the tired squad was on the court until midnight.
The second place finish was one of the team's best results and one of its best performances of the year.
"We weren't only physically tired but mentally fatigued as well," co-captain Doug Scott '94 said. "Still it's the best I've ever seen the team play in my four years here. It's also the first time we ever brought home a trophy."
The team was further honored with two players making the all-tournament team. Both Colin Gorman '97 and Rick Fasani '96 were selected for the team. No other team had two representatives.
Wednesday night, the squad traveled south to Harvard University for a league match.
Dartmouth saw a 1-1 match slip away as the Crimson took the next two games easily.
"We couldn't execute any offense. We couldn't side out, which meant a point for them every time." Jeremy Longinotti '96 said.
The team has a match Mar. 5 at home against Princeton University and will finish its season in early April at the Ivy League tournament, to be held at Princeton, as well.
