Conference News
Harvard Rebounds With Win Against Saint Francis
Harvard Men’s Volleyball Rebounds With Win Against Saint Francis (Pa.)
Jones was the offensive catalyst for the Crimson on
Saturday, recording 11 kills, helping Harvard to a 3-0 against
Saint Fraincis (Pa.) (Gil Talbot)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard men's volleyball team rebounded from a three-set loss to Penn State Friday night with a three-set sweep against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon. Senior Matt Jones led the way offensively with 11 kills, while freshman Caleb Zimmick was a force in the middle registering a season-high nine blocks. With the win Harvard is now 7-2 and 2-2 in the EIVA.
Harvard came out firing in the first set, quickly opening up a
10-6 lead against the Red Flash, getting offense from Jones,
Zimmick and freshman DJ White. Harvard continued to pour it on
going on an 8-2 run helped by kills from sophomore Nick Madden and
Jones, putting the Crimson up 18-8, forcing a Saint Francis
timeout. Kills from Zimmick and Jones inched the Crimson closer to
a set win, pushing the score to 23-10. The Red Flash attempted to
come back with a kill by Alex Kane and an attack error by Zimmick,
but Harvard's Madden struck right back with a kill of his own,
making it 24-12. An attack error by Mark Kochran, sealed the set
for Harvard, 25-12.
Saint Francis fought hard in the second set, evening the score four
times in the matches first 14 points. With the score at 7-7,
Harvard began to pull away as Madden slammed down a kill helping
the Crimson to go on a 4-2 run and forcing a Red Flash timeout. The
break was beneficial for Saint Francis as back-to-back attack
errors by Jones and a Kill by Logan Patterson pulled the Red Flash
to within one, 14-13. The two teams played each other tight the
rest of the way as a Kane kill decreased the Crimson advantage to
two. Zimmick responded in kind, recording a kill and increasing the
lead back to three, and Harvard never looked back closing out the
set 25-21.
In the third set the Crimson jumped out to an early 4-0 lead behind
three errors on Saint Francis and a service ace by Madden, causing
the Red Flash to call a quick timeout to regroup. The Crimson
didn't relent however, scoring six of the next 11 points to take a
10-5 lead. Saint Francis tried to pull the score even as it tallied
five of the next nine points putting the line to 14-10, Harvard.
The Crimson kept the pressure up however, getting two kills from
sophomore Will Chambers and a kill from Jones, which helped to
increase the score to 16-11. Harvard remained in the driver's seat
for the rest of the way, going on a 9-5 run close out the set,
25-16, and the match 3-0
Jones led the team in kills 11, while Zimmick followed behind with
nine. Zimmick had his best day in the middle recording nine of the
teams 11 blocks. Junior Rob Lothman continued his torrid assist
pace recording another 30. The Red Flash had an uncharacteristic
day on offense, with its highest hitting percentage coming in the
second set, as the team recorded a .241 average (14 kills, 7
errors). Kane paced Saint Francis with nine kills while Kochan led
the team with four blocks.
Story Courtesy of Harvard Athletics
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