CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard Men's Volleyball team (6-5, 3-1 EIVA) defeated No. 14 Princeton at home in four sets, to split the series with its Ivy League foe. The Crimson won the match in four sets of 25-17, 25-23, 16-25, and 26-24. Harvard is now 3-1 in conference play.
How It Happened
In another night hosting a rowdy crowd at the Malkin Athletic Center, Harvard found itself in a tight matchup with Princeton once again. The first set started off close, but the Crimson went on a couple of small runs to eventually pull away with the lead. Harvard won the first set, 25-17, to take a 1-0 lead over the Tigers.
Set two started off with a strong kill from
Logan Shepherd. In another tight start, this set saw the Tigers growing a small lead as they took a 15-11 advantage midway through the set. Harvard fought back to tie the set up at 19, and a big block from
Ethan Smith gave the Crimson a 20-19 lead over the Tigers. Harvard was able to hang onto its lead to take a narrow 25-23 win in set two.
In set three, the Tigers gained an early lead, but Harvard continued to fight and keep the set close. Princeton maintained control and won set four, 25-16, to force a fourth set.
The MAC was rocking as the match headed into set four. Once again, the Crimson was in a fight with the Tigers. In a back-and-forth fourth set, Harvard gained a small lead toward the end.
A couple of
Zach Berty kills kept the Crimson in front as the Tigers fought hard to stay in it. Despite a push from Princeton to tie the set at 24, Harvard was able to come out on top, winning the set, 26-24, and securing a 3-1 victory over the Tigers to split the weekend.
Harvard Highlights
Up Next
Harvard travels to New York next week for two more conference matchups. The Crimson takes on Daemen University on Friday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. before heading to D'Youville University on Saturday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m.
