CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Battling to five sets in its season opener in front of a packed Malkin Athletic Center, the Harvard women's volleyball team (0-1, 0-0) faced a 3-2 setback against Marist (2-3, 0-0) tonight, Sept. 3. The Crimson's strong effort fell short by set scores of 26-28, 25-19, 25-16, 21-25 and 11-15.
 
Junior Jaimie Rao and sophomore Katie Vorhies powered Harvard's offense throughout the match. The pair both set career highs in kills, Rao with 20 and Vorhies with 17. Sophomore Ashley Wang joined the duo in double-digit kills with 11. Rao's efficiency was off the charts, tallying another career high of the night with a .457 hitting percentage.
 
Other notable contributors to the Crimson's offensive efforts were Wang, sophomore Bella Almanza and first-year Lindsey Zhang. Wang led the team with 28 assists, while Almanza and Zhang found themselves in the double-digit tally as well with 15 and 10, respectively.
 
On the Crimson's defensive unit, sophomore Ava Rauser guarded the net with a team-high five blocks. First-year Olivia Cooper and Rao followed closely behind with four blocks apiece. Zhang made her debut in a Crimson uniform noteworthy, leading the team with 13 digs in the backcourt. First-year Corinne Furey and Vorhies assisted Zhang, tallying 11 and 10 digs, respectively.
 
Harvard Highlights
- Both Rao and Vorhies recorded career-high kills in the Crimson's season opener.
- Wang posted six service aces, tying her career high.
- The Crimson held Marist to a .163 hitting percentage.
- Harvard won the blocking battle against Marist, 18-14. 

Up Next
The Crimson will return to the Malkin Athletic Center for day two of the Harvard Invitational tomorrow, Sept. 4. Harvard will first face Austin Peay at 1 p.m., before returning to the court to take on Merrimack at 7 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.