After squeaking out a five-set comeback win on the road against Harvard, Penn's volleyball team once again found itself trailing in the critical first-to-15 fifth set, 6-3, at Dartmouth, knowing that a loss would put it out of contention for the Ivy League title.
But during a timeout, the Quakers told themselves they were the better team, got back to basics and confidently executed a 7-2 run behind four of junior Anne Magnuson's career-high 16 kills.
Having already played nine five-set matches this season, including Friday's win over Harvard, the Quakers' experience helped them close out Dartmouth, 15-12, for their seventh-straight victory.
"Just knowing that we're the better team gave us the confidence to take the last set," said sophomore Julia Swanson, who had a match-high 24 kills.
Swanson also sparked the comeback against Harvard (9-15, 4-8 Ivy), a steeper hill to climb at two sets to one. Swanson's five kills in the fourth led the Quakers' best offensive set of the weekend (.400 hitting).
"That really turned the tide," acting coach Ryan Goodwin said. "I felt like the confidence we gained in set four was going to allow us to persevere."
But they were tested in the tense fifth set, which featured 15 ties. On the last play of the game, senior co-captain Kathryn Turner stuffed Harvard's top attacker, senior Kathryn McKinley, to tie a career-high with 10 block assists.
Goodwin was pleasantly surprised with Penn's prowess on the block - 15 in all, a season high.
"It just kind of happened," he said. "We got a couple early blocks, and that sort of set the tone for the night."
Sophomore setter Megan Tryon continued her stellar play with 113 assists over the weekend, including a career-high 62 against Dartmouth. Her consistent play in critical moments allowed the Quakers' offense to thrive.
Despite two wins, the Quakers (12-11, 8-3) remain in third place, behind Princeton and Yale in the Ivy League. The Tigers can eliminate Penn with a win over Brown next Friday.
Even with her team's fate in the Bears' hands, Swanson is holding out hope that the Red and Blue's miraculous late-season drive continues.
"It's not just one person shining; it's all six of us that contribute equally on the court," she said. "I think that we're the best team in the Ivy League for that reason."
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