CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard Men's Volleyball team (1-4, 0-0 EIVA) fell to the University of California, Santa Barbara Gauchos at home in three sets. UC Santa Barbara won the match in three sets of 25-19, 25-23, 25-18.
Harvard stayed close with UCSB at the start of the first set. The set was tied at seven, but shortly after, the Gauchos started to gain an advantage. UCSB never let up, and eventually won the first set 25-19.
In the second set, the Crimson made a strong surge. Midway through the set, Harvard got a big dig from
Kade McGovern and a
Zach Berty kill to tie it at 15. Shortly after, a Gauchos service error and a laser of an ace from McGovern gave Harvard a two-point lead and shifted the momentum in favor of the Crimson. UCSB was able to respond, however, and scored multiple much-needed points late in the set. The Gauchos secured a narrow 25-23 second set and a 2-0 lead over the Crimson.
UCSB held most of the momentum in the third set, starting it off on a 6-0 run. The Crimson got a necessary kill from
Zach Berty to end the Gauchos' scoring streak, but UCSB held onto its lead. The Crimson made a couple tough surges, but it was not enough as it eventually fell, 25-23, in the final set.
Harvard Highlights
Up Next
Harvard returns home next weekend for another pair of back-to-back matches. The Crimson host Merrimack College on Friday, Feb. 9 at 7:00 p.m. and Lincoln Memorial University on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 5:00 p.m. The matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
