Harvard men’s volleyball (5-6, 3-1 EIVA) suffered a 3-1 defeat to Merrimack (5-3) in a midweek match in North Andover on Wednesday evening.
Match Recap:
Merrimack took control early in the first set, maintaining a steady lead throughout. The Warriors led by as much as 14-9, prompting a timeout from Harvard. Despite the Crimson’s efforts to rally, Merrimack continued to extend its lead and won the set 25-16.
The second set was a back-and-forth affair, with 12 ties. Neither team managed to build a significant lead, with the largest gap being just three points. Harvard fought off two set points but ultimately fell 25-23 as Merrimack held on to secure the win.
Harvard bounced back in the third set, taking a 20-16 lead and finishing strong, winning the set 25-20. The Crimson sealed five of the final seven points to keep the match alive.
In the fourth set, Merrimack seized control with a dominant 10-point run, going up 19-10. The Warriors closed out the set with a 25-18 win, clinching the match 3-1.
Harvard Highlights:
- Miha Okorn and Logan Shepherd each contributed five kills to the offensive effort.
- James Bardin recorded four kills and hit .429, while also adding 10 assists and two block assists.
- Freshman libero Thomas Phung led the team with eight digs.
Next Up:
Harvard will return to conference play next weekend with a rescheduled series against Charleston. The matches are set for Saturday, March 8, at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 9, at 1:00 p.m.
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