The Dartmouth girls volleyball team has captured the Southeast Conference championship yet again. With its 3-0 win over New Bedford, the Indians finished league play with a perfect 8-0 mark. It marked the fourth straight year that Dartmouth has gone undefeated in conference play.
“We overcame a lot of obstacles this year,” said veteran head coach Rachel Lassey. “We’ve had key players being injured or sick. All players have really stepped up, and embraced different roles a number of times throughout the season, and we have been able to stay strong.”
The team, which is a veteran squad made up of mostly juniors and seniors, has been led by senior co-captains Lauren Augusto, a setter and Ava Crane, an outside hitter. Augusto is on her way to getting 1,000 assists. She would be the third player in Dartmouth High history to achieve the feat.
Other key performers have been senior outside hitter Erynn Jasparro, junior middle Adeline Ablett, junior libero Gaby Velazquez, junior outside hitter Brooke Davis, junior middle Haley Jenkins and junior defensive specialist Olivia Arruda.
“We are very excited to continue to be a force in the SEC,” added Lassey. “We are very proud to have this accomplishment, and hope to keep it going for as long as possible.”
Lassey herself was recognized for her coaching excellence. This past weekend, she was inducted into the Massachusetts Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.
The Indians are 13-2 overall on the year. The lone setbacks came against undefeated and top-ranked Westborough and Swansea’s Case High, which is ranked second in Division 4. Dartmouth has five games remaining on its docket before trying to make some noise in the MIAA state tournament. In the most recent power rankings, the Indians are ranked fourth in Division 2.