Yale Takes Down Dartmouth, Finishes Season Tied for Second in Conference

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- It was only fitting.  The class of 2016 entered Saturday 26-1 all-time at home against Ivy League teams, and in their final match at the John J. Lee Amphitheater ended with one last victory.

Yale took down Dartmouth in dramatic fashion, and completed the conference season on a high note in a 3-2 victory.  All four Yale seniors in the lineup had a hand in the final seven points to lead the Bulldogs. 

"Congratuations to the seniors who each gave the Yale volleyball program four great years," Yale head coach Erin Appleman said. "It was fitting that the seniors came through in their final home match."

The class of 2016 produced a 48-8 record against Ivy opponents.  Yale finished the 2015 Ivy season tied for second place with Dartmouth with identical 9-5 conference marks.

Senior Kelly Johnson surpassed the 1,000-kill mark in her Yale career during the match, and finished with 14 kills and hit .323 for match.  Classmate Maya Midzik hit .467 with seven kills and no errors on 15 swings.

It was a freshman, however, that led the attack.   Kelley Wirth led the Bulldogs with 15 kills on a team-high 43 swings and competed her first Ivy season as the team leader in kills per set in conference matches with a 3.47 average. 

In a frantic fifth set, and Dartmouth still in the running to qualify for a potential three-way conference playoff, the Big Green jumped out to a 9-5 lead.  The Bulldogs regrouped and exploded for seven straight points. 

After a timeout, Megan Rasmussen (three kills) started it off with a kill.  After an attack error from Dartmouth, Johnson pulled Yale within one and prompted a Dartmouth timeout.

Senior captain Karlee Fuller tied the match at nine.  Midzik and Johnson went back to back on the next two points to bring the crowd to its feet and give Yale the lead for good at 11-9.

Another senior, Christine Wu, who has been Yale's serving specialist throughout her career, caught the Dartmouth defense off guard and notched the 14th point for the Bulldogs.  

Sophomore Kelsey Crawford, who led Yale with 43 assists tonight, posted the final point in a well-placed ball to the backcourt.  

Johnson, Midzik and Wirth kept the match alive for Yale with big plays in the fourth set.  Johnson and Midzik both had five kills.  Midzik hit 1.000 for the set, while Johnson hit .625.  Wirth had four kills in the frame.   

With the set tied at 22, the Johnson and Wirth posted kills on consecutive points to give Yale a 24-22 edge.  The set ended on a Dartmouth error to send the match to a deciding fifth game.

After splitting the first two sets, Dartmouth grabbed the third set that featured nine tied scores and four lead changes. 

Junior Brittani Steinberg had eight kills and eight digs for the Bulldogs

Before the match, Yale's five seniors were honored.  Senior Jesse Ebner, who ranks among the top 10 all-time in program history in hitting percentage, did not play due to injury. 

The Bulldogs close out the 2015 season at Hartford on Nov. 24.

Report filed by Ernie Bertothy, Yale Sports Publicity