JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Harvard women's volleyball (0-2) battled with North Florida (3-3) this evening but fell 3-1 inside UNF Arena.
In the loss,
Sofia Rossi had an early career night in just her second match with the Crimson, tallying a team-high 17 kills.
How it Happened
Poised to bounce back from its season-opening loss, the Crimson came out strong against the Ospreys pulling out to a 7-3 start. The home team responded with a 6-0 run, gaining a 10-8 lead. Despite UNF creating its own four-point advantage, the Crimson continued to battle. Through a 5-1 run, Harvard tied the set and stayed within three during the remainder of the frame. Even with strong offensive performances from senior
Brynne Faltinsky and first-year
Sofia Rossi, the Osprey's hung on to steal the first set, 25-22.
Following its first-set win, UNF carried its energy into the second, cruising out to a 6-1 lead. Harvard settled in, however, swinging momentum in its favor with a dominant 7-1 run. As the Ospreys looked to be taking control late with an 18-15 lead, Harvard rattled off a 5-0 run to be the first team to 20. The Crimson never let its foot off the gas, securing the final five points to win the second set, 25-19. Harvard tied the match through four aces and a .323 hitting percentage throughout the frame.
UNF came out with a vengeance in the following set, running out to a 10-2 advantage. Harvard battled throughout despite the Ospreys substantial lead. Fueled by Rossi, the Crimson fought through four set points. Eventually fending off the Crimson's comeback, UNF took the match lead back with a 25-17 third-set win.
The Osprey's kept the trend of strong starts by gaining an 11-6 advantage to open the fourth set. Harvard followed, digging itself out of the deficit with a 5-0 run to even the frame. UNF quickly settled back in following the Crimson's run, regaining the lead with its own 7-1 push. The foes would never again relinquish their lead, collecting the final set 25-16.
Harvard Highlights
- First-year Sofia Rossi had a career night, leading the Crimson's offense with 17 kills and a .233 hitting percentage. Additionally, the Illinois native added two aces.
- Ali Farquhar had a strong performance for the second night in a row, adding nine kills and four blocks.
- Brynne Faltinsky contributed eight kills, an ace, two blocks, and seven digs in the four-set contest.
- Sophomore Taylor Larkin was all over the court, adding four kills on eight attacks and a team-leading six blocks.
- First-year setter Sophia Wei, totaled team bests in both assists and digs with 19 and eight, respectively.
Next Up
The Crimson will conclude play at the UNF Invitational tomorrow morning against Presbyterian at 10:00 a.m. ET in Jacksonville, Fla.
