PREVIEW: Gritty Crimson Ready for Ivies

At this point last year, the Harvard women’s volleyball team was preparing to defend its first-ever Ivy League title.

Little did the Crimson expect the season that followed. After capturing the Harvard Invitational title to kick off the year, the young squad managed only one more victory the rest of the way, failing to win a single league match.

The 2006 team retains the youthful tinge of last year, featuring five rookies and three sophomores. But having graduated only one player from last year’s roster, the Crimson (2-5) is more experienced and grittier.

And needless to say, no one associated with Harvard expects tomorrow night’s match against Dartmouth to be the start of another winless Ivy League season.

“Honestly, we’re feeling great,” junior co-captain Laura Mahon said. “We’ve learned a lot from our losses from the past few matches, and we’re ready to peak at this point.”

Harvard’s preseason has been a manifestation of how much the team has changed. The Crimson’s defense—one of its weaknesses last year—has allowed it to win close games and rally from big deficits. In addition to producing a stirring comeback against Binghamton, when Harvard rallied from 14-9 down in the deciding game, the Crimson showcased its mettle against three solid California squads.

Though the team has lost four straight since winning two of three matches at the Harvard Invitational, the Crimson has shown the kind of determination that was noticeably absent last year.

“This group is very ready for anything, in terms of playing point-for-point with every team,” said Crimson coach Jennifer Weiss after a thrilling five-frame victory over Binghamton in the season opener. “We’re going to be scrappy—we’re going to be digging a lot of balls.”

As with most young teams, the Crimson relies on strong play from its freshman class, and three first-year players have made an impact already.

Libero Katherine Kocurek has filled the hole created by the graduation of Elizabeth Blotky ’06, leading a defense that ranks second in the Ivy League in digs per game.

Right-side hitter Chelsea Ono Horn has brought power to the outside of the Harvard attack, supplementing junior co-captain Suzie Trimble and senior Katie Turley-Molony down the middle.

And setter Lily Durwood has helped stabilize the Crimson’s passing game, taking turns in the rotation with senior Sarah Cebron.

“[The freshmen] have been working so hard throughout the preseason,” Mahon said. “They’ve really contributed and stepped up to be leaders of the team.”

Nevertheless, Harvard will look to its veterans in the clutch. Turley-Molony and Trimble are an integral part of the Crimson offense, attacking the heart of opponent’s defenses. Mahon and sophomore Kathryn McKinley are two of Harvard’s best all-around players, dangerous as outside hitters and invaluable as defensive stalwarts patrolling the back line.

Perhaps most importantly, however, the Crimson’s upperclassmen have experienced both the joys of winning and the pains of losing, preparing them to guide the younger members of the team.

“All our upperclassmen have worked since February to change the momentum,” Weiss said. “They’ve experienced winning, and then they’ve experienced losing, so they know what it takes to get over the hump and win.”

The rest of the league certainly won’t be a pushover. Defending champion Cornell returns reigning Ivy League Player of the Year and 2005 All-American Elizabeth Bishop, an unstoppable force at outside hitter. Meanwhile, Princeton and Ivy League Player of the Week Lindsey Ensign have streaked through the preseason, tallying a 6-0 record and capturing two tournament titles.

But Harvard isn’t intimidated.

“We’ll be ready,” Weiss said. “We’ll be ready for anybody.”

—Staff writer Karan Lodha can be reached at klodha@fas.harvard.edu.