Senior Todd Tanaka's spike in the fifth and deciding game ended a see-saw match and gave the Harvard volleyball team an exciting 3-2 victory over a taller Northeastern University (N.U.) squad last night in the IAB.

After jumping to leads of 1-0 and 2-1, the Harvard volleyballers played sloppily in the fourth game and allowed N.U. to tie the match at two apiece with a devastating 15-1 triumph.

Harvard bounced back in the final game, staving off several N.U. rallies with tenacious, digging net play. N.U. led, 12-9, in the final game when the Crimson got its first break as a N.U. serve hit the net.

Spike

Two Chris Peterson spikes, a Tom Houlihan service ace, and another N.U. net violation gave the Crimson a 13-12 lead which they never relinquished.

Crimson co-captain and player-coach Roger Martin was jubilant after the match. "The fourth game was an embarrassment. We had to win the last one for the fans," he said afterward.

Martin said the superior front line work of Peterson and Houlihan was crucial. "Tom Houlihan was the key to the frontline play. He won the game for us with his hitting," Martin said in praise of the freshman.

The coach said he was pleased with the overall play of his team but expressed disappointment that N.U. was able to get back into the match.

"We have had trouble putting people away when we're ahead. It's plagued us all year," Martin said.