W. Volleyball Sweeps Weekend Matches

The Harvard women's volleyball team swept its three matches over the weekend, boosting its record to a respectable (5-6 overall, 1-0 Ivy).

In its first two matches the Crimson was able to easily vanquish its opponents Dartmouth and Long Island University, shutting out both teams, 3-0.

An aggressive Fairfield squad proved by far the most challenging for the volleyball team. Only an amazing comeback by the Crimson in the last three games of the match prevented Fairfield from destroying Harvard's hopes for a perfect weekend.

Harvard 3, Dartmouth 0

The three games were all played at Dartmouth, and the Crimson was determined from the onset to make a good showing for itself.

Harvard silenced the feisty fans of the Big Green with its dominant play. The women from Dartmouth were surprised by the intensity of the Crimson, who outscored them 45 to 26 in the only three games of the match.

"At the start we felt the game would be tough," said junior Elissa Hart, Harvard's leader in kills. "[But] we were fired up."

Prepared by their coaches and fans for their first Ivy League match, Harvard's players began the match with a fortitude and confidence the Dartmouth women could not equal.

In the first game, the Crimson bombarded the beleaguered Big Green with titanic blasts from the front line. Dartmouth went down easily 15-6, 15-11, 15-9.

Kate Nash's big time play was one of the many reasons the Crimson triumphed. The sophomore's accurate sets made her teammates' kills unstoppable. Nash garnered Ivy League Player of the Week honors this week for her performance, as well as being named the Coop's Player of the Week.

"Everything came together," Hart said. "It was one of our best matches all season."

Harvard 3, Long Island 0

But the best for the Crimson was yet to come.

Coming off the exhilaration of its win over Ivy League rival, Dartmouth, the team entered Saturday buoyed by the knowledge that it could play with the best of the teams out there.

Harvard trounced the women from Long Island University 15-0 in the first game and concluded the match in overwhelming fashion, winning 15-1, 15-6 in the next two games.

Hart recorded 12 kills in the contest, while senior co-captain Heather Rypkema added nine kills.

"We were never threatened in the game," junior co-captain Lolita Lopez.

Harvard 3, Fairfield 2

On the other hand, the match against Fairfield that afternoon--the final match Harvard would play--almost proved too threatening for the Crimson.

At the end of the first two games, Harvard found itself down 0-2 to Fairfield, facing the unpleasant prospect of defeat for the first time that weekend.

However, the clutch play of middle hitters, Hart and sophomore Anne Schafer, sparked the Crimson on its astounding comeback.

Harvard improved its passing and defense down the stretch to avoid losing to an intense, yet less talented Fairfield team.

Harvard won the final three games in convincing fashion, to take the match 14-16, 10-15, 15-6. 15-7, 15-11.

The perfect weekend for the Harvard team was a much-needed morale booster after a disappointing 2-6 start.

The team's commanding victory over Dartmouth, is also encouraging since it was Harvard's first match against an Ivy League opponent.

"We were very consistent in our passing and hitting. If we play like that we can win the Ivy League," Lopez said.

The co-captain and her teammates have their chance to fulfill "Leapin'" Lolita Lopez's prediction this weekend when they travel to play Ivy League opponents Cornell and Columbia for two demanding matches.

The following weekend gives Crimson fans the opportunity to support the volleyball team, which will host both Penn and Princeton, two of the toughest teams in the league. Harvard  3 Dartmouth  0

Harvard  3 Fairfield  2

Harvard  3 Long Island  0

Harvard  3 Fairfield  2

Harvard  3 Long Island  0

Harvard  3 Long Island  0