Women's Volleyball Goes Winless in Season-opening Tournament

Three matches. Three losses.

It was a rough weekend for the Harvard women’s volleyball team at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. After falling to Middle Tennessee State, 3-2, on Friday, the Crimson was blanked in back-to-back matches on Saturday, falling to Towson and a talented Virginia Tech team, 3-0.

“I think it was a really good learning experience; we played harder teams than we’re going to face in the Ivy League,” said junior middle blocker Teresa Skelly. “I think everyone grew a lot.”

The Crimson will return to Cambridge with a 0-3 record, matching the squad’s worst start since 2002.

“I would say that we need to work on speeding up our game,” said junior right side Erin Cooney. “The teams that we saw were a lot quicker than the teams in the Ivy League. We need to learn to defend against it, and we need to speed up our own offense.”

Cooney, who played a crucial role for the Crimson at the net as a sophomore, dislocated her finger in Harvard’s opener and was forced to sit out both of Saturday’s contests. The junior is awaiting X-rays but hopes to be back in action for the Crimson’s next contest on Friday against Manhattan at the Malkin Athletic Center.

Captain and outside hitter Taylor Docter played well for Harvard throughout the tournament, recording a team-high 31 kills and 24 digs, good for second on the squad.

“Taylor really stepped up,” said Skelly of Docter, who was named to the all-tournament team. “I thought [the recognition] was well deserved.”

TOWSON 3, HARVARD 0

In the final game of the tournament, the Crimson stayed close with Towson but was unable to take a set, falling, 25-18, 26-24, 25-16.

Three Tiger players posted double-digit kills, and Towson (6-2) finished with 50 kills to Harvard’s 31. Docter was the only Crimson player to finish in double figures, recording 11 kills. Skelly added seven kills, and rookie setter Hannah Schmidt handed out 24 assists.

VIRGINIA TECH 3, HARVARD 0

In Saturday’s opener, the Crimson fell to Virginia Tech, 25-12, 25-12, 25-15. The Hokies (4-2) were led by the combination of Samantha Gostling and Victoria Hamsher, who combined for 19 kills and attack percentages of .500 and .467, respectively. Virginia Tech setter Jordan Fish handed out a game-high 36 assists.

Docter led Harvard with six kills while sophomore outside hitter Kristin Casey contributed 11 digs.

MIDDLE TENNESSE STATE 3, HARVARD 2

Led by Docter’s 14 kills and 11 digs and rookie outside hitter Kathleen Wallace’s 16 kills, the Crimson battled back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth set on Friday.

“We all got really fired up,” said Cooney, who left the game in the first set due to injury. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but there wasn’t a single moment in that game where I think anyone was willing to let them win. We just kind of kept fighting.”

But Middle Tennessee State (3-4) used an 8-2 run to close the final set and to take the match.

“That was a fun one,” Skelly said. “It was tough to lose, but I think our chemistry really paid off.”

Blue Raiders freshman Chelsea Ross fueled the squad’s game-ending run, scoring three of her team’s final four points. Ross notched six of her game-high 19 kills in the final set.

But Ross wasn’t the only rookie making an impact in the fifth frame. Wallace recorded three of the Crimson’s five kills in the final set. The freshman finished with 16 kills, six errors, and three digs.

“For a volleyball player at her position, she’s kind of small, but her vertical is like eight inches taller than anyone else’s,” said Skelly of Wallace, who is listed at 5’8”. “She goes up there, and she’s not afraid. We’re playing against girls five or six inches taller than her, and she’ll hit over them, off their hand—find the smart shot.”

Cooney added, “To see a freshman playing as composed as she was is very promising. She was still scoring points in high-pressure situations. She’s a really dynamic player, and it will be great to see her play more.”

Sophomore middle blocker Caroline Walters chipped in with 13 kills, and senior setter Beth Kinsella led the Crimson with 26 assists. Rookie setter Hannah Schmidt added 22 assists.

—Staff writer Martin Kessler can be reached at martin.kessler@college.harvard.edu.