State College, P.A. – Harvard Men's Volleyball fell to the Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball after a competitive three-set battle on Friday night.
How It Happened
The Crimson struggled to settle in during the opening set, with several balls slipping between block coverage and missed opportunities to capitalize on holes in Penn State's defense. The Nittany Lions controlled the tempo early, forcing Harvard to play from behind.
Harvard answered in the second set with renewed energy. Strong net play and disciplined blocking helped the Crimson build momentum, highlighted by back-to-back aces from Sawyer Nichols that forced a Penn State timeout. Owen Woolbert delivered multiple late-set finishes to keep Harvard within reach. The Crimson pushed Penn State to extra points, hitting an efficient .364 in the frame.
Harvard tightened defensively in the third set and challenged Penn State at the net, with
Thomas Phung anchoring the back row through several deep digs and smart out calls. Despite the improved play, Penn State broke through late to close the match.
Harvard Highlights
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Zach Berty contributed 5 kills, 4 block assists
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Owen Woolbert added 5 kills and 3 block assists
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Brian Thomas added 3 kills and 4 block assists to the board
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The team's hitting percentage hit a high of .364 in the second set
Harvard returns to action against Penn State at 3:00 p.m. Saturday in its second conference weekend and fourth conference match of the season. The match will stream on Big10+.
