M. Volleyball Fails To Meet Expectations

Once burned, twice shy.

A year removed from being torched in its inaugural campaign in the Hay Division of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA), the men’s volleyball team must be feeling quite bashful after a second straight year of struggling in its new division.

After what had been accepted as a rebuilding year last season, the Crimson was unable to capitalize on an infusion of new talent and the guidance of veteran leadership as it stumbled to a 8-13 record, including a 4-7 league mark.

“This past season was a disappointment because we didn’t meet the expectations we established at the beginning of the year,” said junior co-captain Mike Bookman. “We thought we had the personnel to challenge NYU at the top of the league.”

The season began promisingly enough with a 3-1 home win over crosstown rival MIT and a gritty 3-1 road victory over league foe Southampton. But untimely injuries and positional changes disrupted the team’s chemistry and led to a tough 3-0 road loss to league power Vassar in the next game.

“The Vassar match was probably our worst one of the year,” Bookman said. “Losing a league match so early in the year put us behind the eight-ball and was a sign of our later struggles.”

With key injuries to senior middle blocker and co-captain Justin Denham (lower back) and freshman outside hitter Will Reppun (ankle), Harvard dropped its next four matches by a combined margin of 12-3. During this losing streak, the Crimson saw its league record dip to 1-4, and its usually solid home mark was a subpar 1-3.

“The senior leadership on the team has to take responsibility for the drought,” Bookman said. “Despite the injuries and other circumstances, our veterans had to step up and provide leadership during that stretch.”

After the disastrous five-game losing streak that effectively ended any shot at winning the league title, the Crimson took advantage of an unbalanced schedule that featured seven of eight matches at home. The Crimson won five of those eight to pull within one game of a .500 record.

But with recurring injuries and six straight road games, the Crimson was unable to keep up any momentum and dropped five of its last six matches to finish in fifth place in the league.

“One of the unfortunate facts about the season was that we only won back-to-back games twice,” Bookman said. “I thought that was a tell-tale sign that we didn’t have the consistency, skill execution and mental preparation necessary to compete successfully.”

Despite the disappointing season, the Crimson only graduates two players this year and can look forward to continued contributions from this year’s freshman class.

Reppun, when healthy, demonstrated why he had been one of the most prized recruits in the nation last year. Freshman Juan Ramos logged significant playing time at libero, and walk-on freshman outside hitter Abe Marouf was voted the team’s most improved player.

But the Crimson will have to cope without its emotional leader when Denham graduates today.

“He was one of the hardest-working players I’ve ever competed with,” Bookman said. “He was a true leader, both by being very vocal and in leading by example. He will be sorely missed.”

If Harvard can fill Denham’s shoes in the middle and if the young players can continue to improve upon promising efforts, then there is no reason to doubt the Crimson’s ability to succeed next year.

Then again, after having been burnt and shamed, the Crimson will have to prove itself on the court next year in order to avoid another season of disappointment and wasted potential.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

RECORD 8-13 (4-7 EIVA Hay Division)

COACH Tom Wilson

CAPTAINS Justin Denham, Mike Bookman

HIGHLIGHTS Denham, a middle blocker, leads Harvard with 4.25 kills per game. Freshman outside hitter Abe Marouf, second on the team with 3.04 kills per game, is voted the team’s most improved player.