HANOVER, N.H. — The Columbia volleyball team came alive in the third set but it was too late to muster a comeback, falling to Dartmouth in three sets (13-25, 12-25, 26-28) Saturday evening at Leede Arena.
 
After Dartmouth (8-12, 4-6 Ivy) took the first two sets decisively, Columbia (9-11, 3-7 Ivy) rallied from 10-4 down to take a 20-16 lead in the third set. The Lions earned set point ahead 24-23, but the Big Green were able to turn the tide, finishing off the match in three sets and avoiding a season sweep.
 
Emily Teehan led Columbia with a match-high 15 kills while hitting .281. The rookie outside had seven kills in the third set alone and posted five on seven swings in the first. Fellow first-year Isa Lamus went for eight kills, senior Luciana Del Valle recorded a match-high 16 digs and sophomore setter Audrey Cheng tallied 24 assists.
 
Dartmouth did a lot of work defensively, outblocking the Lions 12-3, while making the most of their attacks with a .307 hitting percentage. Nicole Liddle hit .444 with nine kills while Carly Tower hit 667 with eight kills and posted a match-high six blocks. Francesca Meldrum and Abby Kott added five blocks apiece.
 
The Big Green turned a close first set into a runaway with a 6-1 burst to go up 17-9 and force the Lions into both of their timeouts. Teehan responded with one of her five kills in the frame, but Dartmouth continued to build on its lead, ultimately scoring 14 of the final 19 points to take a one-set lead.
 
Columbia led once in the second set, 2-1, before Dartmouth scored five straight on Bella Hedley's serve. The Lions burned through both timeouts in an 11-4 hole but it didn't get much better from there. Dartmouth hit .407 while the Lions hit -.026 to go down two sets.
 
Dartmouth looked well on its way to victory with the first five points and a 10-4 lead in the third set. However, the Lions stayed within striking distance before scoring eight straight points to take a 19-15 lead. Teehan had three kills and junior Rose Compton had two blocks through the run that saw the home side spend both of their timeouts. Teehan wound up with seven kills in the set, her last pushing the lead to 20-16.
 
Despite the effort, Columbia could not extend the match. Dartmouth scored six of the next seven points to regain a lead before the two sides went blow for blow down the stretch. Audrey Cheng gave the Lions set point, 24-23, but Abby Kott saved it and Corrine Cox turned the tide to put the Big Green back on top. Columbia was able to save the first two of Dartmouth's match points before a Teehan attack went long to seal it in three.
 
The Lions return to New York for their final two home matches of the season next weekend against Princeton and Penn. The senior class of Madeleine Casey, Luciana Del Valle, Natasha Kosowicz and Lauren Wilkins will be honored Saturday.

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