NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Harvard men's volleyball (0-2, 0-0 EIVA) dropped their second contest out west to No. 18 California State University-Northridge (CSUN) (2-2, 0-0 Big West), 1-3.  The Crimson will return to the east coast looking for its first win of 2024 despite putting up strong battles against a pair of nationally ranked opponents. 
 
Despite the Crimson winning the first point, CSUN went on a 3-0 scoring run to create distance in the first set.  While pulling within a point to make it 6-7, the Matadors went on a 8-3 run before a timeout to pull out to a six-point lead.  Not allowing the Crimson to break within five of the lead, CSUN was ultimately able to take the first set, 25-20. 
 
Determined to even the score, the Crimson started strong, pulling out to a 6-2 lead in the second set and never looking back.  Returning the favor, Harvard held a three-point lead or more through the rest of the set to bring the match to a tie.  The Crimson finished with a 39.1% hitting percentage compared to the Matadors 15.4% in the second set.  Owen Fanning was proving to have a strong night, contributing 10 of his 13 total kills in the first two sets. 
 
The Matadors bounced back in the third set by beginning with a 6-0 lead.  From there on out the Crimson and the Matadors remained relatively even but Harvard was not able to make a run at the lead, placing CSUN up, 2-1, heading into the fourth set.
 
With only one lead change throughout the first three sets, the beginning of set four showed the fight from both teams.  The score had not gone more than one point in a single direction until the 24^th point as the Crimson pulled ahead, 13-11.  Harvard looking in control for most of the fourth set, even pulling ahead by four points on multiple occasions down the stretch.  Late in the set, the Matadors were able to tie things up and ultimately closed out the match with a 27-29 final frame win. 
 

Harvard Highlights

• Zach Berty led the team in kills with 14 on 29 total attacks for a hitting percentage of 24.1%.
• Owen Fanning followed closely behind with 13 kills and a 32% hitting percentage.  The junior started the match strong, registering 10 of his 13 kills through the first two sets.  Fanning also led the Crimson as the only player in double digit digs with 10 total. 
• James Bardin bested his assist total from last night by compiling 36 of the teams 39 total against the Matadors.  The junior added six assists on the night. 
• Ethan Smith contributed four kills and a team-high four total blocks in the contest. 
• Owen Woolbert followed up his stellar collegiate opener last night with four kills and a 42.9% hitting percentage against CSUN. 

Next Up

The Crimson will next head to New York to face D'Youville and Daemen on back-to-back days beginning Wednesday, January 17.