FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Harvard Men's Volleyball rallied from a one-set deficit to take down Sacred Heart, 3-1 (15-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-19), Friday night at William H. Pitt Center. The Crimson moved to 1-0, while the Pioneers fell to 0-1.
First-year
Zach Berty led all players with 13 kills, while sophomore
Kade McGovern added 12 kills and a match-high five blocks. Other notable accomplishments included McGovern's classmate,
James Bardin, contributing 32 assists, junior Trevor Schulz leading all Crimson players with a .600 hitting percentage (6-10), and sophomore
Logan Shepherd notching a match-best eight digs.
How It Happened
- Harvard and Sacred Heart traded points early in the first set, but the Pioneers took a 6-4 lead and scored five straight points to move ahead, 11-4. The Crimson never got closer than six points the rest of the way as the hosts secured the 25-15 decision.
- In the second set, Harvard looked poised to run away, taking a 7-3 lead, but SHU leveled the score with four consecutive points. The schools found themselves knotted at 20, and once again at 23, only to have the Crimson move ahead on a Sacred Heart error. McGovern put the finishing touches on the frame with a kill from the opposite side.
- Sacred Heart notched two of the first three points of what ended up being the pivotal third set only to have Harvard answer with four straight points. The visitors ended up never looking back en route to a 25-20 victory.
- Harvard began the third set trailing, 6-5, but responded by logging eight of the next nine points to take an 11-9 lead. The Crimson ultimately led, 16-10, and was never threatened the rest of the way in what ended in a 25-19 clincher.
Harvard Highlights
- The Crimson defeated Sacred Heart for the ninth consecutive time and improved to 36-8 all-time vs. the Pioneers. The two teams will get together in Cambridge, Massachusetts on March 22.
- Harvard won its opening match for the second time in the last three competition seasons. The decision was its first lidlifting victory since 2020 (Harvard did not compete in 2021).
- The Crimson has won its last three matches that have taken place in the month of January.
- Harvard has won five straight matches in the state of Connecticut.
Up Next
Harvard returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to face Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
