Harvard Dominates in Break from EIVA Play

The Harvard men’s volleyball team (9-10, 5-3 EIVA) played its second tune-up, non conference match in a row Friday, defeating Dominican University of New York (5-19, 2-2 ECC) in the friendly confines of the Malkin Athletic Center.

The Crimson did not get much of a challenge in its final non-conference game of the season as the team fired on all cylinders and dismantled its overmatched foe. But the game still served as valuable practice time and recovery for Harvard.

“I think it is a good chance to really dial in our fundamentals before the big games,” said junior middle Brian Thomas.

“We have had a lot of sickness and injuries, so just kinda getting a feel again, getting our rhythm, making sure our serve and pass game is good, and all that kind of stuff,” he added.

Harvard 3 Dominican 0

Thomas opened scoring for the Crimson with a victorious joust at the net — a manhandling at the net that was symbolic of things to come in the first set.

The only resistance Harvard faced early on came from the service line. The Crimson dominated every facet of the game but committed four service errors in the first 15 points. Harvard doubled Dominican 12-6, forcing the Chargers to burn a timeout.

Dominican found no magic formula in the timeout as the Crimson continued to double-up the Chargers. Even the service line turned towards Harvard in the latter half of the set as the Crimson cruised to a 25-12 set victory.

The Chargers put up a better fight to start the second set, holding pace with Harvard through the first half of the set. Every time the Crimson seemed set to pull away, Dominican would put together two or three points to keep up.

Harvard finally created some distance midway through the set, taking a 15-10 lead. From there, the Crimson conducted hitting practice as Harvard’s dominant attack steamrolled the Chargers defense to claim the second set 25-17.

Similar to the second set, Dominican played with the Crimson early in the set. Tied at 6-6, Harvard created its first separation of the set, opening up a 12-9 lead.

The Crimson’s lead was brief as the Chargers tied it back up at 13. From that point the pendulum of the set swung one last time in favor of Harvard as the Crimson pushed out to a 20-15 lead. Senior defensive specialist Callum Diak served for the match for Harvard as the Crimson won the final set 25-19.

With only two series left — both with conference foes — Harvard has confidence that it is peaking at the right time. Facing down a critical matchup with rival Princeton next week, the Crimson seems confident. While the schedule says that Harvard just played its last home game, Thomas is not so sure. When asked if tonight would be the last home game of the season he gave a definitive answer.

“Hopefully not, definitely not. We are bringing it back here for the IBA playoffs,” said Thomas.

In order for Thomas to be right, the Crimson must win the EIVA. Harvard currently sits third in the EIVA, two games behind Princeton and one behind George Mason, a team the Crimson split with on the season. Princeton and George Mason play this weekend, meaning Harvard will gain ground on one or both of its foes.

The Crimson will return to action against Princeton next Friday, April 11th, at 7:00pm at Princeton.

—Staff writer Reed M. Trimble can be reached at reed.trimble@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @ReedTrimble1.