Eli spikers spill Crimson blood, gore Big Green

The waiting was over and the pressure was on. It was crunch-time, a do-or-die situation in which only the very best would prevail. Take one glance at the Yale women's volleyball team this year, and the results should not surprise you.

Led by head coach Peg Scofield and captain Leigh Brezler, PC '97, the Blue carried an overall record of 15-7 (3-2 Ivy) into this past weekend. Only one game separated them from the first place spot, and the league leaders were coming to town. In order to have a chance at a first seed in the Ivy League tournament, the Elis needed to sweep the weekend series.

Harvard, with an overall record of 10-11 (4-1 Ivy), is enjoying a remarkable season, perhaps one of their best ever. Despite finishing in fifth place last year, the Crimson put up a substantial fight in the league championships that resulted in a defeat of the favored Bulldogs. That was then, however.

The Crimson were no match for the Blue this year, as the Bulldogs handed their rivals a ticket back to Cambridge in the form of a 3-0 shutout on Fri., Nov. 1. Phoebe Dann, CC '98, and Rosie Wustrack, BR '99, each had 10 kills and 12 digs, and a phenomenal team effort proved that the Cantabs could not obstruct the Bulldogs' success this year.

"Everyone played really well in that match," Wustrack said. "It gave us a lot of confidence that we can beat Harvard, and hopefully we will be able to do it again if necessary in the Ivy tournament."

The triumph against Harvard completed only one of the two goals of the weekend, the other being a victory against Dartmouth the following day. The Big Green have exhibited an amazing turn-around this year, bringing an overall record of 16-6 (4-1 Ivy) into the weekend. In the past three seasons, Dartmouth's league play has been very weak, but additional funds and recruitment along with the "underdog attitude" brought them to a new level this year.

A heated match ensued, each team trying to out-do the other in any way possible. After four games, the two teams each had two games under their belts, so the fifth game would decide the winner. In an exciting, highly-competitive game, the Bulldogs pulled off the dramatic 15-8 upset that they so desperately needed.

"That match was very similar to our one against Brown," Brezler said. "Both teams have big outside hitters, so once we were able to stop them, their offense was not as effective against us."

Brezler's 65 assists along with Wustrack's incredible 25-kill, 24-dig performance helped lead the way to victory, allowing the Bulldogs to achieve both of their weekend goals. Wustrack's play was typical for a season in which she has won four Ivy League Player of the Week awards. In the words of Brezler, "It will be a crime if she doesn't win Player of the Year."

Unfortunately, their loss to Princeton earlier in the season prevented the Blue from capturing the first seed. Critics say that having a second seed is not as easy as a third or fourth seed. The second seed will put them against the seventh seed, most likely Cornell, who will host the tournament. The team is not terribly worried, however. "The title is up for grabs, so any match we have is going to be difficult. It will be a battle, but there is no reason why, in my mind, we cannot win the whole tournament," Dann said.

The Blue take their 17-7 overall record (5-2 Ivy) to the Lehigh Tournament this weekend as a final preparation for the Ivy Championships the following weekend. In looking ahead, Brezler stressed that the team "must expand our offense and gain confidence that we can beat any team in the league. There is a lot of pressure, but we need to stay focused and release the killer instinct that we have been cultivating all season long."