Harvard opens its non-conference schedule at the Harvard Invitational (David Silverman).

Story Line
Harvard hosts Eastern Illinois, Bryant, Boston College and New Hampshire in the Harvard Invitational, Sept. 3-4. Harvard returns 10 letterwinners from last season, when the Crimson finished fourth in the Ivy League and had two players earn spots on All-Ivy League teams.

Schedule for the Weekend
Sept. 3
3:00 p.m. ~ Bryant vs. Eastern Illinois
5:30 p.m. ~ Boston College vs. UNH
7:00 p.m. ~ Harvard vs. Eastern Illinois

Sept. 4
10:00 a.m.  ~ Eastern Illinois vs. UNH
12:30 p.m. ~ Harvard vs. Bryant
3:00 p.m. ~ Boston College vs. Eastern Illinois
5:30 p.m. ~ Bryant vs. UNH
8:00 p.m. ~ Harvard vs. Boston College

The Home Team
Harvard returns its top four hitters from last season in Mikaelle Comrie, Anne Carroll Ingersoll, Taylor Docter and Sandra Lynn Fryhofer. All four players averaged over 2.3 kills per set and Fryhofer led the Crimson with a .318 hitting percentage. Libero Christine Wu compiled 491 digs last season and Ingersoll averaged over a block per set for Harvard. The Crimson welcomes five freshmen to the 2010 roster, which boasts 10 total underclassmen.

Scouting Eastern Illinois
The Panthers open their 2010 season at the Harvard Invitational, squaring off against Bryant in the opening match and facing Harvard in Friday's final contest. EIU finished the 2009 season with a record of 11-20, including a 4-13 conference mark. Senior Alex Zwettler returns as the teams top hitter from last season, as she averaged over 3.2 kills per set and was second on the team with 355 digs on the year. This is the first meeting between the teams.

Scouting New Hampshire
The Wildcats enter the tournament with a 2-1 record on the season, recording wins over St. John's and Farleigh Dickinson at the Army Tournament last weekend. UNH posted a 13-15 overall mark and 5-5 conference record in 2009, advancing to the America East Championship semifinal round. Junior Lauren Laquerre leads the Wildcats in hitting with 43 kills in three matches, while classmates Amy Keding and Taylor Dressing are averaging over 2.5 kills per set. Sophomore Jessy Dick enters the weekend with a team-high 11 blocks.

Scouting Bryant
Bryant picked up three wins in four matches at the season-opening Tiny Laster Memorial Tournament last weekend, including straight-set wins over Hampton and South Carolina State. The Bulldogs went 11-23 with a 6-10 conference mark in 2009. Maria Scocca, Jasmin Stoner and Kendall Gaffney are all averaging over 2.0 kills per set and Scocca has a team-high 10 blocks on the year. Macy Mitravich leads the team with 67 digs. Harvard won the only other meeting between the teams, a 3-1 victory at the 2008 Central Connecticut State Tournament.

Scouting Boston College
The Eagles enter the Harvard Invitational having won their last game; a 3-0 win over Quinnipiac. BC got off to a hot start last season and ended with a 12-19 overall record. Brennan Clark leads all Eagles with 39 kills on the year while Val Mattaliano and Tsvetelina Dureva have 25 and 23 kills, respectively, heading into the weekend. Clark and Kristen Baader are tied for the team lead in digs with 39 apiece and Krystle Higgins paces BC with nine blocks. Boston College leads the all-time series against Harvard 21-15, and has won four straight matches against the Crimson.