Harvard Sweeps Red Line Series With 3-1 Win

The second installment of the Red Line Rivalry was identical to the first.

The Harvard men's volleyball team crushed MIT 3-1 ( 30-20, 30-23, 28-30, 30-23) last night at the Malkin Athletic Center.

It was the second time this season the Crimson ( 5-3, 1-3 Hay) dominated the Engineers (2-13, 1-8 Odeneal) in four games. Harvard defeated MIT 3-1 in its season opener three weeks ago.

The Crimson managed to recover its winning ways and snap a two-game losing streak, despite the loss of sophomore setter Mike Bookman.

Bookman went down with a back injury in the first game of the match. In the middle of a long rally, Bookman apparently landed awkwardly and collapsed on the court. He did not get up for several minutes and was eventually helped off the court.

Harvard was already missing freshman middle blocker Juan Carlos Cardet due to an ankle sprain and it seemed the match would take a turn for the worse with the loss of Bookman. However, his replacement, freshman Russell Mosier, played an excellent game as the setter in Harvard's victory.

"This was a very satisying win," Harvard Coach Tom Wilson said. "With Juan Carlos out and Mike going down to injury, we had to come together as a team."

The Crimson jumped out early in the first game, led by the play of junior co-captain Justin Denham and senior outside hitter Brian Stevenson.

Behind powerful kills by Denham and Stevenson, Harvard jumped out to a 20-9 lead and later increased it to 28-14. MIT outside hitter Ramon Partida kept the Engineers in the game, but the Crimson ultimately prevailed 30-20.

The second game was closer than the first, and Harvard only led 10-9 at one point. Sophomore middle blocker Alex Kowell took over the game at this point, recording three blocks and two pinpoint kills to lead an 11-1 Crimson run. Harvard closed out the game, 30-23, by forcing a multitude of MIT errors.

In the third game, the Engineers picked up the pace and battled the Crimson point for point. The game was tied at 14-14 and later at 22-22.

Partida made sure the Crimson would not sweep the match, and after several resounding kills, catalyzed the charge that gave the Engineers the third game at 30-28.

Harvard returned to form in the fourth game, and led 5-2 after four kills by Stevenson. The Crimson continued its tough defense, with Mosier amassing several blocks at key moments of the game. Harvard finished off the Engineers despite Partida's best efforts.

"We pulled ourselves together in that fourth game," Kowell said. "We lost focus for a while, but we came back with our heads together."

Harvard's next game is this Saturday in a crucial matchup against Hay Division leader NYU. The Crimson will have to secure the victory without the services of Cardet and Bookman, who will not be available for the game.