Santa Barbara, CA. – Harvard Men's Volleyball dropped its second match of the ASICS Tournament hosted by UC Santa Barbara in four sets to CSUN on Friday night, January 9. Despite the loss, the Crimson showed resilience and growth throughout the match, highlighted by a dominant third-set performance.
Harvard battled from start to finish and delivered its strongest stretch of play in the third set, posting an impressive .424 hitting percentage. The frame featured 13 tie scores, with the Crimson taking the lead on three separate occasions before ultimately claiming the set. Harvard maintained high energy and composure, staying within striking distance throughout the match.
First-year setter Kai Gan was a key contributor on both sides of the ball, running the offense for the entirety of the match while also adding five kills on a .556 hitting percentage. Gan's versatility played a crucial role in keeping Harvard competitive, particularly during the third-set surge.
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First-year Oliver Doty made his collegiate debut and immediately made an impact from the service line, recording three service aces. The Crimson also found success in serve-receive, posting a 52% sideout rate against a strong CSUN squad.
Sawyer Nichols led all Harvard players with 15 kills, providing a dominant offensive production.
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Zach Berty and
Brian Thomas each added five kills to round out a balanced attack.
Harvard Highlights
Harvard will look to build on the momentum from its third-set performance as the Crimson continue competition at the ASICS Tournament.
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