PHILADELPHIA, PA – Harvard women's volleyball (8-5, 3-1 Ivy) dropped a five set thriller to Penn this evening to conclude its weekend on the road. 

How it Happened

The match opened with either team trading points to force a deadlock at 3-3.  The Quakers then used a run to pull ahead and create a significant distance from the Crimson.  Harvard continued to battle and pressured with several attempted comebacks but ultimately Penn solidified the frame, 25-18. 
 
Harvard found its grove in the second set, getting itself on the board with a 25-16 result.  The Quakers were able to take minimal advantages to open the frame, but overall play was a back-and-forth affair until Harvard broke away.  On the back of a 7-1 run, Harvard took over momentum in the match, pulling out to a five-point advantage.  Never letting up, the Crimson continued to grow its advantage, reaching as large as a nine-point lead. 
 
After creating an early five-point advantage, the Quakers held control over the third set to swing the momentum back in their direction.  The foes were able to maintain its distance throughout the entirety of the frame, closing with a 25-15 result to retake the lead in the match. 
 
Determined to keep the match alive, the Crimson used a pair of 4-0 runs in the middle of the fourth set to create distance against the Quakers early.  The home team, however, was able to bounce back and even take back the lead at 11-10.  The remainder of the frame was a battle as the two teams tied nine times until the Crimson eventually stole the set at 26-24 and forced a fifth set. 
 
The Crimson came out strong in the first half of the final set, using a 5-0 run to create a four-point distance.  However, the Quakers came alive, registering eight of the next nine points to pull ahead 12-9.  Despite the Crimson continuing to battle and pulling back within one, the Quakers stole the final set 15-13 to conclude the match up. 

Harvard Highlights

• Brynne Faltinsky (18), Ryleigh Patterson (14), and Peyton Hollis (11) all contributed double digit kills during the contest. 
• Patterson had an all-around performance while also adding three digs and leading the team with six total blocks. 
• Rocky Aguirre led the Crimson with 46 assists while also contributing four kills with a .500 hitting percentage, an ace, nine digs, and two total blocks. 
• Lindsey Zhang recorded a team-high 22 digs while also recording her first kill of the season.
• Teia Piette and Hannah Nguyen also brought a strong defensive presence contributing 10 and 9 digs, respectively.   

Next Up

The Crimson will make its way back to Cambridge next weekend to close out the first half of the Ivy season against Yale (9-3, 5-0 Ivy) on Friday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. and Brown (4-11, 1-4 Ivy) on Saturday, October 19 at 5:00 p.m.  Either match will be played at the Malkin Athletic Center and on ESPN+.