Spikers Rebound, Beat MIT, 3-2, Club Match Builds Confidence

The Harvard's men's volleyball team defeated MIT, 3-2, in an exciting match at the Indoor Athletic Building Sunday.

After winning the first game 15-7, the Crimson lost its consistency, and let a steady MIT club squad come back and win the next two games 15-13, 15-7.

Harvard couldn't regain its concentration and was soon losing the fourth game as well, 9-4.

But the match was far from over.

With awesome spiking by Co-Captain Mohan Nadkarni and outside hitter Scott Alpert, the Crimson rallied back to cut the visitors' lead down to two points and freeze the score at 8-10 for nine consecutive side-outs.

Later, with the match tied at 13, MIT foot faulted and then served out, losing two crucial opportunities for points and providing Harvard with a chance to seize the fourth game, 15-13.

Perhaps even more exciting than the actual volleyball played during this game, was the on court exchange between players and the referee.

Three Harvard team members were given yellow card warning for of-fence ranging from arguing with the ref to shouting obscenities on the court.

Sensitive Ref

"We were just excited about the match," said Alpert. "The referee was sensitive. It's really no big deal."

If anything, the on-court controversies seemed to get the Crimson more psyched up.

After taking an early 9-2 lead. Harvard won the fifth and deciding game, 15-11.

While the victory does not count toward the Crimson's Ivy League or East Coast official records, the annual scrimmage against MIT has become a traditional highlight of Harvard's season.

The MIT club team is comprised of players of various ages and background from the Cambridge area, and includes Harvard graduate David Twite.

Twite, a former All-Ivy selection and the captain of last year's Harvard squad, seemed pleased with his now former team's performance.

"The team played well," Twite said. "They were flat sometimes, but on the whole they looked surprisingly good."

So Smooth

Nadkarni agreed. "Despite a few mental lapses we're playing a lot smoother," he said. "Passing is improving, which helps the setters. And when the setting is better, it's easier to hit."

"We played as experienced team," said Scott Alpert. "We had to beat them, because they don't beat themselves. We made a good comeback and showed character. I'm looking forward to a good season."