Dartmouth volleyball team barely breaks a sweat in first playoff win
The Indians celebrate their victory after defeating Whitman-Hanson 3-0 in the first round of the playoff tournament on Friday, Nov. 4. Photos by: Morgan Beard
Senior Ava Crane goes up high for a spike.
Juniors Brooke Davis (left) and Gaby Velazquez (right) turn to smile for the camera as the team huddles up. 
Lauren Augusto adjusts to set a rogue ball. 
Sophomore Ben Smith (left) and senior Will Bouvier commentated on the game live for DCTV as part of the high school media department’s increased commitment to sports coverage. 
Junior Brooke Davis fields a tricky hit. 
Junior libero Gaby Velazquez celebrates after the visitors call timeout during the first set.
Junior Adeline Ablett spikes the ball. 
Lauren Augusto plays the ball. 
Junior Haley Jenkins goes up for a hit. 
Junior Brooke Davis dives to return a shot. 
Brooke Davis hits a powerful shot. 
Senior captain Lauren Augusto sets the ball. 
The bench celebrates a point in the Indians’ final set. 
The Dartmouth faithful cheer on the girls. 
Ava Crane gets way up for a spike.
The Indians celebrate their victory after defeating Whitman-Hanson 3-0 in the first round of the playoff tournament on Friday, Nov. 4. Photos by: Morgan Beard
Senior Ava Crane goes up high for a spike.
Juniors Brooke Davis (left) and Gaby Velazquez (right) turn to smile for the camera as the team huddles up.
Lauren Augusto adjusts to set a rogue ball.
Sophomore Ben Smith (left) and senior Will Bouvier commentated on the game live for DCTV as part of the high school media department’s increased commitment to sports coverage.
Junior Brooke Davis fields a tricky hit.
Junior libero Gaby Velazquez celebrates after the visitors call timeout during the first set.
Junior Adeline Ablett spikes the ball.
Lauren Augusto plays the ball.
Junior Haley Jenkins goes up for a hit.
Junior Brooke Davis dives to return a shot.
Brooke Davis hits a powerful shot.
Senior captain Lauren Augusto sets the ball.
The bench celebrates a point in the Indians’ final set.
The Dartmouth faithful cheer on the girls.
Ava Crane gets way up for a spike.
The Dartmouth High volleyball team (4) is on to the sweet 16 after making quick work of Whitman-Hanson (29) in the first round of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association playoff tournament.
The Indians won the game in three-straight sets, never giving the visitors the slightest chance as they ended each set with double-digit leads.
“It was a great start,” said head coach Rachel Lassey after the game. “They rose to the occasion and they got the job done.”
Lassey said that the victory showed the team’s chemistry and versatility as they worked in perfect concert to confuse their opponents, who never seemed to know where the ball would be going.
“That’s the beauty of what we’ve got going on right now, we’re not just relying on one hitter to put the ball down,” she said. “Lauren [Augusto], my setter… she gets to everything, but she doesn’t just have to push the ball to Ava [Crane] every time — we’ve got all cylinders firing.”
Lassey added that the team’s multi-pronged attack was complimented perfectly by its understated, but rock-solid, defense.
“Our defense is awesome, I feel like they never get any credit,” she said. “They’re the reason why Lauren can run the offense that she’s running.”
The hall-of-fame coach also noted that a handful of the team’s starters were competing in the playoffs for their first times and that she was glad to see that the moment wasn’t too big for them.
“I’m really proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish, especially the juniors,” she said. “For three of them this is their first tournament game.”
Now, Lassey said, she wants the team to build off their first postseason win as they move on to the next round.
“I’m really excited. That was a great start,” she said. “It’s nice to get this first one behind us and move on to the next.”
Dartmouth will move on to play Canton (13) at home on Monday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m.
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