Santa Barbara, CA. – Harvard Men's Volleyball opened its 2026 season with a loss to UC Irvine on Thursday night at the ASICS Tournament, hosted by UC Santa Barbara.

The Crimson showed flashes of offensive efficiency throughout the match, highlighted by a strong second set in which Harvard finished with a .360 kill percentage. Sawyer Nichols led the team with six kills, while Quinn Bishop followed with five to pace the attack.

Zach Berty, Brian Thomas, and Owen Woolbert also contributed offensively, each recording multiple kills as Harvard spread production across the lineup. One of the Crimson's key strengths on the night was its ability to navigate UC Irvine's block, with swings frequently deflecting off the hands for out-of-bounds points and helping extend rallies.

The match also marked the first career appearances for Eric Su and Kai Gan, who both saw action in the season opener. Adrian Shevchuk delivered a strong performance at setter, effectively distributing the offense and keeping Harvard's attack in rhythm throughout the match. Thomas Phung was a standout in the back row, making multiple vital saves to keep points alive and allow Harvard to stay competitive in extended rallies. 

Despite The Crimson's best efforts, UC Irvine claimed the win in three sets.

Harvard Highlights

• Sawyer Nichols led the team with six kills.

• Quinn Bishop added five kills.

• Eric Su and Kai Gan saw their first action as first-years.

Harvard will look to carry forward its offensive efficiency and rally control as they face CSUN on Friday, January 9th at 5:00pm ET.