Men's Volleyball Hosts Baruch in Home Opener

The Particulars
After opening the season with three matches on the road, the Harvard men’s volleyball team will play its first home match of the season against Baruch, Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Malkin Athletic Center.

Last Time Out
Harvard lost a close five set match to Endicott Jan. 29. After winning the epic opening set, 47-45, the Crimson lost momentum and Endicott won the following two sets, 30-19 and 30-21, respectively. The fourth set was back and forth until Harvard went on a 9-2 run to pick up with win and tie the match at two sets apiece. In the deciding set, Endicott used five unanswered points to shut down the Crimson and take the win, 15-8.

Erik Kuld posted a team-high 18 kills to lead four Crimson players in double figures. Matt Jones recorded 15 kills and 12 digs. Rob Lothman handed out 55 assists.

Scouting the Crimson
Harvard is seeking its first win, having suffered losses to Juniata, St. Francis and Endicott in its season opening road swing.

Erik Kuld paces the team with 3.58 kills per set, while Matt Jones adds 3.5 per set. Rob Lothman dishes out 11.25 assists per set. On the defensive side, Dan Schreff leads the Crimson with 2.75 digs per set and Nicola Ivica registers 1.25 blocks per set.

Scouting The Bearcats
Baruch boasts a 9-2 overall record. The Bearcats, ranked fourth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Men’s CoachesTop 15 poll, have picked up wins against No. 2 UC Santa Cruz, No. 13 Endicott and No. 14 MIT. Their only losses have come at the hands of No. 2 UC Santa Cruz and No. 7 Rivier.

Pablo Oliveira paces the Bearcats offense with 4.8 kills per set. Radu Wyrwas hands out 8.23 assists per set, while Ivan Andujar follows with 7.8. Jonathan Tuwaidan has registered 2.5 digs per set

Getting Started
Baruch enters today’s contest having played 11 matches so far, compared to Harvard’s three. Harvard’s last three opponents have entered their matches with the Crimson having played a combined 24 matches.

On the Bench
Head coach Brian Baise, a 1995 graduate of Princeton, is in his second season at Harvard. He brings an 11-11 overall record into today’s match.

Up Next
Harvard travels to Nashua, N.H., to face Rivier Feb. 10 before returning home to host Princeton Feb. 13.