W. Volleyball Stumbles Out Of The Gate

Perhaps a little rusty from the long offseason, the Harvard women’s volleyball season struggled in its season debut, dropping three straight matches at the Fairfield Invitational this weekend.

The losses, though, came to three teams already several weeks into their seasons, leaving the Crimson (0-3) positive.

“I think we definitely have the team chemistry,” said junior middle hitter Mariah Pospisil. “It’s the best since I’ve been here. Once we get into the groove of competition we’ll be great.”

Harvard next plays Tuesday at 7pm when it hosts New Hampshire at the Malkin Athletic Center.

STONY BROOK 3, HARVARD 1

In its second game of the day, Harvard fell to the tournament runner-up Sea Wolves 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Stony Brook (8-2) rebounded after a 3-2 setback to Illinois-Chicago the previous day halted a seven-game winning streak.

As she did all weekend, junior outside hitter Allison Bendush performed well. After only limited action last season, Bendush stepped into the position vacated by former captain Erin Denniston ‘02, Harvard’s career kill leader.

“Ally is a really great player,” Pospisil said. “She’s not as tall as Erin, but she’s a really smart hitter. She uses shots really well.”

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 3, HARVARD 2

Despite four Crimson players posting double-doubles, Harvard dropped a grueling five-game match to the Flames on Saturday morning.

After taking a 2-1 lead, the Crimson dropped game four, 30-23. With the score knotted at 2-2, Harvard battled to a 16-15 lead and a match point in the final game. A momentum-crushing kill by UIC sophomore outside hitter Jordan Studzinski tied the game, though, and put the Flames in position to rally.

“The momentum just kind of went their way,” said sophomore outside hitter Nilly Schweitzer. “It’s so hard in rally scoring. When you are going back and forth, one point here and one point there, it can really go either way.”

Sophomore middle hitter Kaego Ogbechie and Bendush posted 17 kills and 12 digs apiece, both team highs.

Schweitzer (14 kills, 10 digs) and junior outside hitter Amy Dildine (10 kills, 12 digs) also put up double-doubles for Harvard.

Senior captain Mindy Jellin added 51 assists.

Harvard won its first game of the season 30-27 to start the match, dropped game two 30-19 and rebounded with a 30-28 victory in the third game.

The Flames, who went on to win the tournament, improved to 8-2 with the victory.

FAIRFIELD 3, HARVARD 0

In a sluggish beginning to its year the Crimson fell behind early and never recovered, losing to the host Stags (3-5) in straight games.

Led by four kills from junior outside hitter Kristin Anderson, Fairfield rushed out to an 11-1 lead in the first game, and held on when a furious Harvard rally fell short.

Harvard began its comeback with a kill by Bendush and a pair of service aces by junior middle hitter Mariah Pospisil to put the score at 11-3 and eventually pulled within two points, 16-14. However, the Stags pulled away to take the first game 30-22.

After trailing by as many as 10 points in the first game, Harvard battled in the final two games, never trailing by more than six points. Still, the Stags scored when they had to, and finished off the Crimson with 30-25 and 30-27 victories in the final two games.

Ogbechie posted a match-high 14 kills. Bendush added 13 kills and, with nine digs, was the Harvard player closest to a double-double. Schweitzer led the team with 10 digs. Perhaps a little rusty from the long offseason, the Harvard women’s volleyball season struggled in its season debut, dropping three straight matches at the Fairfield Invitational this weekend.

The losses, though, came to three teams already several weeks into their seasons, leaving the Crimson (0-3) positive.

“I think we definitely have the team chemistry,” said junior middle hitter Mariah Pospisil. “It’s the best since I’ve been here. Once we get into the groove of competition we’ll be great.”

Harvard next plays Tuesday at 7pm when it hosts New Hampshire at the Malkin Athletic Center.

STONY BROOK 3, HARVARD 1

In its second game of the day, Harvard fell to the tournament runner-up Sea Wolves 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Stony Brook (8-2) rebounded after a 3-2 setback to Illinois-Chicago the previous day halted a seven-game winning streak.

As she did all weekend, junior outside hitter Allison Bendush performed well. After only limited action last season, Bendush stepped into the position vacated by former captain Erin Denniston ‘02, Harvard’s career kill leader.

“Ally is a really great player,” Pospisil said. “She’s not as tall as Erin, but she’s a really smart hitter. She uses shots really well.”

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 3, HARVARD 2

Despite four Crimson players posting double-doubles, Harvard dropped a grueling five-game match to the Flames on Saturday morning.

After taking a 2-1 lead, the Crimson dropped game four, 30-23. With the score knotted at 2-2, Harvard battled to a 16-15 lead and a match point in the final game. A momentum-crushing kill by UIC sophomore outside hitter Jordan Studzinski tied the game, though, and put the Flames in position to rally.

“The momentum just kind of went their way,” said sophomore outside hitter Nilly Schweitzer. “It’s so hard in rally scoring. When you are going back and forth, one point here and one point there, it can really go either way.”

Sophomore middle hitter Kaego Ogbechie and Bendush posted 17 kills and 12 digs apiece, both team highs.

Schweitzer (14 kills, 10 digs) and junior outside hitter Amy Dildine (10 kills, 12 digs) also put up double-doubles for Harvard.

Senior captain Mindy Jellin added 51 assists.

Harvard won its first game of the season 30-27 to start the match, dropped game two 30-19 and rebounded with a 30-28 victory in the third game.

The Flames, who went on to win the tournament, improved to 8-2 with the victory.

FAIRFIELD 3, HARVARD 0

In a sluggish beginning to its year the Crimson fell behind early and never recovered, losing to the host Stags (3-5) in straight games.

Led by four kills from junior outside hitter Kristin Anderson, Fairfield rushed out to an 11-1 lead in the first game, and held on when a furious Harvard rally fell short.

Harvard began its comeback with a kill by Bendush and a pair of service aces by junior middle hitter Mariah Pospisil to put the score at 11-3 and eventually pulled within two points, 16-14. However, the Stags pulled away to take the first game 30-22.

After trailing by as many as 10 points in the first game, Harvard battled in the final two games, never trailing by more than six points. Still, the Stags scored when they had to, and finished off the Crimson with 30-25 and 30-27 victories in the final two games.

Ogbechie posted a match-high 14 kills. Bendush added 13 kills and, with nine digs, was the Harvard player closest to a double-double. Schweitzer led the team with 10 digs.