KINGSTON, RI – Despite displaying its relentless fight, Harvard women's volleyball dropped its first match of the 2024 season, falling the Rhode Island, 2-3, in the opening match of the Art Carmichael Invitational.
How it Happened
The opening set began as a back-and-forth affair as either team did not pull ahead by more than two before a late 16-13 advantage for the Rams. The slim deficit created by URI was enough to hold off the Crimson for the remainder of the set, ultimately moving ahead in the match following a 25-20 decision.
The Crimson grabbed back momentum in the early moments of the second, storming out to a 7-3 lead. While maintaining distance across the next few points, the Rams suddenly hit a hot streak, rattling off five straight points to take back control of the set at 13-12. Another Rams run grew the lead and despite Harvard's efforts, URI moved to 2-0 courtesy of a 25-19 final number.
Trying to repeat the heroics of its last match, the Crimson buckled down in the third, once again growing a three-point advantage following an early 4-0 scoring run. Using their lead to regain momentum, the Rams overtook the scoreboard including pulling within two points of a match victory. Five straight kills courtesy of
Peyton Hollis,
Ryleigh Patterson, and
Bennett Trubey kept the Crimson hopes of victory alive as it halted URI and forced a fourth set with a 25-23 victory.
In hopes of closing out the match the Rams came out swinging in the fourth set, grabbing an early seven-point lead through the first 17 points. Continuing to prove its fight, the Crimson established its own run, recording six straight points to pull within one. Not allow Harvard to fully take control, the Rams brought the set all the way to match point but more match saving heroics in a 5-0 Crimson run brought a fifth set.
Despite an early advantage and an 8-7 lead at the turn, URI was able to lock down their victory in the final set holding off a late Crimson run to secure the final set 15-11 and the match as a whole.
Harvard Highlights
- Peyton Hollis posted a career night for the second match, registering a team-best 17 kills with a .297 hitting percentage. The junior's previous career best sat at 11, reached last weekend against New Hampshire.
- Corinne Furey and Ryleigh Patterson each joined Hollis with double figure kills, both posting 11 across the five sets. Furey also added seven digs while Patterson led the team with seven total blocks.
- Lindsey Zhang posted a season-high 21 digs, narrowly missing a new career-best as she led the team in the category.
- Rocky Aguirre who recently broke into the top-10 all-time in program history in assists, had a team-best 34 tonight while first-year, Nicole Cornell, contributed 16.
Next Up
The Crimson will look to get back in the win column tomorrow with a pair of matches against Stony Brook and Northern Illinois at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.
