Harvard Drops Both in EIVA Opener

The Harvard men’s volleyball team began its quest to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish in the EIVA at home this weekend, but the Crimson was unable to win either game against No. 20 New Jersey Institute of Technology. Harvard fell 3-1 in both clashes with the Highlanders.

An already small Crimson (2-7, 0-2 EIVA) team was even more shorthanded this weekend as junior outside Quinn Bishop was out with an illness, and NJIT (8-5, 3-0), which finished tied for second in the EIVA last season, is a strong team that doesn’t need any help from its opponents.

“It’s just hard missing such a big presence on the court and expecting to beat a top team in the league even with all the talent we have,” said junior middle Owen Woolbert

Harvard 1, NJIT 3

Harvard struggled to adjust early to its new rotations. With Bishop out, the Crimson started freshman Oliver Doty at middle, moving Woolbert over to opposite, and sending the typical opposite, sophomore Sawyer Nichols, to Bishop’s outside position.

Harvard began the game hitting -.500 and dug itself a 9-2 hole, forcing Head Coach Brian Baise to burn a quick timeout. Out of the timeout, the Crimson’s rotation brought a massive lineup to the court with Nichols, Woolbert, and co-captain Brian Thomas all taking the court together for Harvard. The move gave the Crimson a strong blocking group at the net that deterred or got a solid touch on most NJIT attacks. Harvard built momentum from its strong defense, cutting the deficit to five.

Unfortunately for the Crimson, its success was short-lived as NJIT’s lead ballooned again and the Highlanders claimed the first set 25-12.

Doty showcased his blocking skills with a solo block to open the second set, giving the Crimson its first lead of the match. The block gave Harvard momentum, as the team settled into its rotations.

The Crimson hit a rough patch halfway through the set. The passing problems that have plagued the team throughout its early stages of the season returned. Shaky passing combined with inconsistent setting stifled Harvard’s offense and led Baise to switch setters from junior Adrian Shevchuk to freshman Kai Gan. The move reinvigorated the Crimson, and it went on a four-point run to cut the Highlanders’ lead to one.

With a new lease on life, Harvard battled with NJIT for the rest of the set. The Crimson reclaimed the advantage at 17-16 and fought the Highlanders to an even 23-23. Clean play by NJIT over the next two points overpowered Harvard to end the set 25-23.

With its back against the wall, the Crimson came out swinging in the third set. At the heart of Harvard’s success was Doty. The freshman continued his strong play in both aspects of the game. His classmate, Gan, also thrived in the set, efficiently commanding the offense and coming up with some clutch digs on defense.

Co-captain Zach Berty also joined the party, contributing two early kills as the Crimson grew a 10-4 lead.

Harvard appeared to be running away with the set at 16-9, but NJIT stormed back to tie the set at 22.

In need of a closer, Gan turned to Nichols, who rewarded his trust with a kill. Nichols followed it up with a service ace to give the Crimson set point. After a service error by Nichols, Thomas buried a kill from the middle of the court to give Harvard its first set win at 25-23.

The Crimson carried over its momentum into a competitive fourth set. Nichols and Woolbert led the charge offensively, both looking more comfortable in their new roles.

Ultimately, the consistency of the Highlanders proved too much for the hodgepodge lineup of the Crimson to match. Harvard hung around for much of the set, but NJIT was able to score two for the Crimson’s one down the stretch to pull away 25-20.

“We came in a little slow, but after the first few sets, everyone kinda settled in and started to play better and better,” said Woolbert about adjusting to the new rotations.

Harvard 1, NJIT 3

Returning to action on Saturday, Harvard stuck with Gan at setter, and the opening set took a similar rhythm to Gan’s sets in the previous game. He opened the game relying on the consistent combo of Woolbert and Thomas.

A triple block by Thomas, Gan, and Berty put the Crimson down 11-10 almost halfway through the set. But, similarly to the first game, the consistency of the Highlanders proved too much for Harvard. After a Woolbert kill tied the score at 13, a 7-1 run for NJIT blew open the set and ultimately clinched it 25-21.

The Highlanders stayed hot to start the second set and jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but a quick rebuttal run by the Crimson cut the lead to one.

Nichols took over the middle part of the second set. The sophomore personally went on a 4-1 run to give Harvard its first lead of the set at 13-12.

The foes exchanged points for the remainder of the set, reaching a 23-23 race-to-two that the Crimson desperately needed to win. Harvard quickly found its back against the wall after a Berty kill was housed, but the senior was not deterred, finding paydirt on the next point.

Another block by NJIT gave the Highlanders a second shot at set point, but the Crimson got the last laugh and blocks. A service error by NJIT evened the score, and two consecutive blocks by the Harvard trio of Woolbert, Nichols, and Doty claimed the set for the Crimson at 27-25.

The Highlanders responded with a vengeance in the third set, blowing out Harvard. NJIT’s blockers set the tone early, refusing to give the Crimson any openings to attack. Those early struggles plagued Harvard for the rest of the set as the team failed to find any groove on offense.

Woolbert led the charge for the Crimson in the fourth set, tallying eight kills in what would be the final set of the match.

Harvard started strong, pushing out to a 6-4 lead. A 6-0 run by the Highlanders immediately took the wind out of the Crimson’s sails. Although Harvard kept in-touch the rest of the set, the Crimson did not lead again.

A late run by Harvard built tension for the closing of the set, but NJIT’s efficient offense found the two kills it needed to shut the door 25-23.

“I think to be more consistent, we need to find ways to maintain energy throughout the game,” said Woolbert. “We come into games much slower than our opponents.”

Consistency has been an issue for the Crimson all season, and it was once again an issue this weekend. Harvard had stretches where its talent and athleticism shined through.

The Crimson will return to action on Friday, Feb. 20, on the road against No. 15 Penn State. Harvard pulled off a memorable upset of the Nittany Lions in the first matchup of the EIVA foes last season and will look to replicate that magic in this season’s double header. Friday’s game begins at 6:00 p.m. EST, and Saturday’s game begins at 3:00 p.m. EST. Both games will be aired on BIG10+.

– Staff writer Reed M. Trimble can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @ReedTrimble1. Follow @THCSports for all of The Crimson’s sports coverage.