Dartmouth completes 13-0 volleyball campaign

DARTMOUTH — Given the uncertainty of this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, getting out on the court would have been sufficient enough for Dartmouth.

Obtaining a championship was the cherry on top.

Behind stellar play from outside hitters Sorelle Lawton and Ava Crane, Dartmouth capped a season of dominance with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-17) victory over Bridgewater-Raynham to capture the Southeast Conference Tournament title Thursday.

“Considering that we didn’t even think we were going to play, this is everything,” said Dartmouth coach Rachel Lassey as the Indians finished undefeated at 13-0. “These girls deserved to be out on the court. To be able to see them right now and so happy, that’s all I wanted for them.”

Lawton and Crane set the tone for Dartmouth as it faced B-R for the fourth time this season.

A kill from Lawton after a long volley broke an 8-8 deadlock in the first set and gave Dartmouth momentum before Crane, who finished with 18 kills, took over at the end of the frame to put the Indians in front.

The Trojans hung tough in the second set, but Dartmouth stayed composed to score the final four points to win the stanza.

Lawton then sparked a 13-0 run early in the final frame by recording all nine of her aces during the spurt — she also recorded 12 kills in the match — and Dartmouth held off a B-R rally to take the crown.

“I missed a couple (serves) in the beginning and I was kind of mad about that,” Lawton said. “My focus was to get them inbounds and once it starts going it just helps and go on a little run.”

With the clean sweep, Dartmouth won 39 of 43 sets this season and dating to last year, the Indians have won 34 of their last 35 matches.

“All the credit in the world for what they’re doing for us everyday,” Lassey said. “Heart and soul in every second we’re out on the court.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3prwTXa