State College, P.A – Despite a second set win, Harvard Men's Volleyball (2-9, 0-4 EIVA) dropped its second match of the week against No. 16 Penn State (9-4, 3-0 EIVA).
How it Happened
Harvard opened the match with steady scoring in the first set, keeping pace early before taking a mid-set hit that proved difficult to recover from, ultimately dropping the frame.
The Crimson answered in set two with a strong defensive showing at the net. Owen Woolbert ignited the momentum with back-to-back block assists, helping Harvard disrupt Penn State's attack. The blocking presence remained a key factor throughout the set, limiting clean kills and forcing tough swings. Sawyer Nichols led the charge offensively, recording multiple kills and firing two service aces, while Quinn Bishop added timely finishes to keep the pressure on. Harvard capitalized on the surge to even the match with a kill from Zach Berty.
Set three unfolded as a tight, back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading points in extended rallies. Offensive production was balanced, as Harvard's top scorers spread the kills across the rotation, keeping the set competitive throughout.
The fourth set consisted of a handful of kills spread among The Crimson's top scorers, but the Nittany Lions kept its momentum, widening the score until the 25th point.
Harvard showed resilience throughout the contest, stringing together multiple strong rallies. The Crimson recorded ten kills in both sets two and three, highlighting consistent offensive pressure despite the tightly contested finish.
Harvard Highlights
-Sawyer Nichols paced the Crimson offense with 14 kills, seven digs, and three service aces
-Owen Woolbert followed with eight kills and four blocks, also marking his second-best performance of the year, and posted an efficient .500 hitting percentage.
-Setter Adrian Shevchuk improved on his previous outing with 31 assists and contributed to a .400 team hitting mark
-Thomas Phung anchored the back of the court with several difficult defensive saves.
Next Up
The Crimson travel back to Cambridge, where they host the University of Charleston in a two-match weekend. The Crimson plays at 7:00 PM on Friday, February 27th and 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 28th. The games will stream on ESPN+.
