The Fab Five: Team Power Rankings

With winter seasons coming to a close, spring seasons underway, and March Madness on the horizon, The Back Page takes a look at the top five teams in Harvard athletics at the moment.

5. Men’s Volleyball

After losing to a powerful Penn State squad, Harvard has rolled of five straight wins, including a tight, 3-2 victory over George Mason, to whom the team had lost in early February. At 11-2 and led by co-captain and reigning EIVA offensive player of the week Matt Jones, the squad will spend its spring break in California as it looks to continue its winning streak on the west coast.

4. Men’s Tennis

Entering this weekend at the Hilton Mission Valley Spring Classic in San Diego, No. 26 Harvard looks to continue its success this year so far. The Crimson stands at 10-1 overall with ECAC Division I championships already under its belt as it heads into the major part of its schedule.

3. Women’s Swimming and Diving

After securing the 10th Ivy League title in team history, Harvard finished tied for second the ECAC championships behind first place Navy. With 12 all-Ivy selections, the Crimson will send a total of five swimmers and divers from to the NCAA championships, with three going to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships this weekend and two to the nationals the following weekend.

2. Men’s Basketball

Although Harvard had its 28-game home winning streak snapped a couple weeks back in a heartbreaking loss against Penn, the Crimson bounced back with two close wins against Columbia and Cornell. And with a Penn loss last Tuesday night, Harvard is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1946. The Crimson will look to bust some brackets next week after it hears it seeding this selection Sunday.

1. Women’s Squash

Finishing the season at a perfect 17-0, Harvard captured both the Ivy League championship and the CSA national championship, defeating Yale in relatively-easy, 8-1 victory in the final and avenging its loss against the Bulldogs in last season’s final. A major difference this year was freshman Amanda Sobhy, who followed up her strong team performance by winning the CSA Individual Championships last Sunday. On the men’s side, sophomore Ali Farag won the CSA Individual Championship as well, capping a very strong showing overall for Harvard squash.