The Harvard women's volleyball team entered last night's match against Penn with a mission: to prove that it's a contender.

And the Crimson left the court knowing that its mission was accomplished.

Even though the spikers lost to the Quakers, they are the only other Ivy team besides Yale to take a set from Penn this season.

In front of more than 100 spectators at Malkin Athletic Center last night, the spikers (11-7 overall, 1-3 Ivy) dropped a hard-fought four-set match, 15-9, 17-15, 13-15, 15-13, to the Ivy League-leading Quakers (13-7, 4-0 Ivy).

"We didn't miss many serves," Co-Captain Maia Forman said. "Our serving and defense were really good. It was the best match we've played this year."

Forman led the way with an amazing 33 assists, two kills, three blocks and five aces, while Co-Captain Jodi Cassell registered a team-leading seven kills. Suzie Tapson added six kills, while Manda Schossberger, Lee Polikoff and Pascale Jean-Louis all had four.

"Maia set really well," Susie Nemes said. "The whole team played an outstanding match.

In the first set, the squad jumped out to a 8-5 lead on kills by Casselll and Polikoff.

After putting the Crimson on the brink at 14-8, both teams traded several side-outs, before Penn's Stephaine Stance put the match away with a kill.

Even though Harvard lost the first set, Penn knew that the Crimson was for real.

The hosts jumped out to a 9-5 advantage on kills by Polikoff, Tapson and Cassell in the second set.

The Quakers rallied to take a one-point advantage, but Harvard fought back to tie the match at 15-15. Penn recorded the final two points to win the set.

In the Crimson's brief six-year varsity history, Harvard had never won a set from Penn--that is, until the third set last night.

Harvard quickly took control of the set, recording several rushing spikes to gain a 9-6 lead.

With dink points by Forman and kills by Schossberger and Polikoff, the Crimson closed the Quaker lead to one, 13-12.

At that point, Harvard's Carolyn Burger turned in the play of the night--and also turned the set around for the Crimson.

Burger, a freshman, made a spectacular save, chasing down a live ball that had rebounded off Schossberger. The play fired up the spikers, as Tapson and Cassell recorded consecutive smashes to give Harvard the set, 15-13.

In the fourth set, the Quakers jumped out to a 7-3 lead and then fought off several Crimson rallies to hold a 10-9 advantage.

After several long rallies and exciting saves, Penn extended its lead 14-10. But the Crimson did not go out without a fight, trading several side-outs with the Quakers before succumbing.

At match's end, the Crimson walked off with a lot more confidence, knowing it can compete with the Ivy League's best.