W. Volleyball Sweeps Harvard Invite

If practice makes perfect, then the Harvard women's volleyball team might soon find an Ivy League crown in its lap.

In its final tune-up before the Ivy League tournament next weekend at Dartmouth, the Crimson (17-11, 5-2 Ivy) cruised to a perfect 3-0 record at the Harvard Invitational this weekend, defeating Siena 3-0, Marist 3-1, and SUNY-Stony Brook 3-0.

"We had a great tournament this weekend," Harvard Coach Jennifer Weiss said. "We did a lot of good things this weekend, which is great because preparation for the Ivies next weekend is very important to us at this point."

Sophomore outside hitter Erin Denniston, who chalked up 24 kills against Marist on Saturday afternoon, and junior middle hitter Katherine Hart gathered All-Tournament honors for their efforts this weekend.

"We're viewing each match as preparation for the Ivies," co-captain Kristen Schaeffer said. "We think that every match will get us even better for next weekend."

Harvard 3, Siena 0

The Crimson entered Friday night's match against the Saints looking to get off to a fast start, in the first of three contests in less than 24 hours.

It did exactly that, as it dominated Siena from start to finish with an impressive 3-0 sweep, 15-6, 15-9, 15-11.

"We just wanted to go out and execute well," Schaeffer said. "This was a good morale builder and stepping stone along with the other two [matches] for the Ivy tournament next weekend."

Using momentum from its convincing road victory just days before against UNH, Harvard wasted little time in getting down to business.

Down 5-4 in the first game, the Crimson quickly put together a nine-point streak to take control.

Freshman outside hitter Liz Cebron and sophomore teammate Erin Denniston powered a consistent attack for Harvard throughout the whole match. They combined for 24 kills, many of which helped Harvard overcome its pre-game jitters and take the first game 15-6.

Freshman setter Mindy Jellin also came through with a spectacular performance, leading the Crimson with 31 set assists.

"We were focused on the fact that in order to win these matches, we needed all of us to come out and contribute," Schaeffer said. "I think we did that [Friday night]."

Harvard cruised over the next two games even though Siena's attack became stronger. The Crimson took the next two games 15-9 and 15-11 with everyone on the roster getting significant playing time.

Junior setter Julie Yick added 13 assists of her own for Harvard, which was glad to finish the Saints off in three games with two tough contests scheduled for the next day.

Siena's lone bright spots were sophomore Christina Baldwin's 10 kills and senior Sarah Watkins' 36 set assists.

Harvard 3, Marist 1

In its first match Saturday morning, the Crimson steam-rolled its way to a tough 3-1 victory over the Red Foxes, 15-5, 15-4, 12-15, 15-9.

"[The match] was a lot of fun," Denniston said. "We were having a really great time out there."

In addition to Dennison's 24 kills, Cebron powered the Harvard attack with a match-high five aces, and Yick added 10 digs.

Junior outside hitter Heidi Hildebrandt led the Red Foxes with 15 kills.

Harvard dominated the first game, quickly jumping out to an early 8-5 lead. A Yick ace, three definitive Denniston kills, and two balls hit long by the Red Foxes allowed the Crimson to score six straight points, giving Harvard an insurmountable 14-5 lead. After the two teams exchanged sideouts, Jellin closed out the first game with a crafty back-tap that escaped three Marist blockers.

Early in the second game, the Red Foxes battled to an early 2-1 lead against the Crimson, but Harvard soon regained its senses. A kill by Schaeffer forced a Marist sideout, and senior defensive specialist Laurel Rayburn gave Harvard the lead with a service ace on its next possession. The Crimson then ran off eight consecutive points, exploding to an 11-2 lead over the Red Foxes. A kill by junior outside hitter Sarah Mattson ended the second game for the Crimson, giving Harvard a 15-4 win.

Harvard suffered from a slight mental lapse during the third game. The Crimson again dominated early, jumping out to a 6-2 lead. Marist battled back behind superb blocking by sophomore outside hitter Julie Gosewisch, taking a 10-6 lead after a Hildebrandt kill. Harvard recovered to take a 12-11 lead after a Marist error, but the Red Foxes scored the last five points of the third game, winning 15-12 after a kill by junior middle blocker Leigh Shillington.

"We didn't play as well as we were capable of [in the third game]," Schaeffer said.

Although Marist exploded to an early 8-1 lead in the fourth game, Harvard soon regained its senses. A crucial kill by Schaeffer down the middle of the court forced a Marist sideout and began an inspired Harvard rally. Three straight service aces by Cebron allowed the Crimson to trail Marist 8-4. The two teams exchanged sideouts until a Jellin kill sparked another Harvard rally. Marist took a 9-8 lead, but another Cebron ace allowed Harvard to tie the game at 9-9.

The Crimson went on to score the final six points of the game, with an authoritative Hart kill over the hands of three blockers ending the match and giving Harvard a 15-9 victory in the fourth and final game.

"In the fourth game, everybody just came together and played as a team," Schaeffer said. "All thirteen players were ready and prepared to play."

Harvard 3, Stony Brook 0

In its final match of the tournament, the Crimson defeated the Sea Wolves in three straight games, 15-13, 15-5, 16-14.

The victory served as sweet revenge for Harvard, which had lost in four games to Stony Brook in October.

"We just tried to execute simple plays well," Weiss said. "We had lost to them earlier in the year, and we just tried to play the match one point at a time."

Denniston and co-captain Linda Jellison led the Crimson with 13 kills each, and Hart added on 10 kills. Junior outside hitter Angela Lutich racked up 11 digs, and Jellin contributed with 10 digs.

Senior middle hitter Almaris Miranda paced the Sea Wolves with 18 kills.

Several Harvard errors allowed Stony Brook to grab an early 10-4 lead in the first game, but Harvard soon regrouped. A crucial Lutich kill catalyzed the Crimson's comeback, and Harvard trailed Stony Brook 11-8. Hart delivered a powerful kill to force a Stony Brook sideout, and an ace by Jellison catalyzed an unstoppable Harvard attack.

A solo block by Hart tied the game at 11-11, and Harvard took the lead after the Sea Wolves' Miranda hit the ball out of bounds. A Hart ace closed out the first game for the Crimson, giving Harvard a thrilling 15-13 victory.

Harvard again struggled early in the second game. Both teams were tied at four until a kill by Denniston gave Harvard the lead. A Stony Brook kill by senior Jessica Serrano forced a Harvard sideout, but Hart answered with a kill of her own to give Harvard possession of the ball. A block by Lutich and Schaeffer put Harvard up 6-4, but after exchanging sideouts, a Serrano ace allowed Stony Brook to trail 6-5.

The Crimson took control of the second game and went on to score the final nine points, winning the second game, 15-5, on a powerful kill by Jellison.

Early in the third game, the Crimson again seemed to suffer from a mental lapse as the Sea Wolves jumped out to a 12-5 lead. A Denniston kill began a Harvard rally, and the Crimson climbed back to score seven consecutive points, tying the game at 12-12. A Jellison kill from the right side of the net down the middle of the court gave Harvard a 13-12 lead, but after a long serve by Jellin and a Miranda kill, Stony Brook tied the game at 13-13. A block by the Sea Wolves' Alisse Gossett allowed Stony Brook to go up 14-13, but Harvard dominated the rest of the game.

A kill by Jellison through the hands of two Stony Brook blockers forced a Sea Wolves sideout, and a Jellison block on the Crimson's next possession allowed Harvard to tie the game. A Denniston kill forced match point, and Harvard went on to win the final game, 16-14.

"We ran the sideouts that we wanted," Weiss said. "We just tried to chip away at their lead [during the fourth game]."

Harvard is seeded third in the Ivy League tournament next weekend and will be spending this week in preparation for the most important weekend of its season.

But if last weekend's Harvard Invitational is any indication of the Crimson's performance in the future, an Ivy League crown may be in the Crimson's crystal ball.