Any good women's volleyball team knows that digging, setting and spiking are all necessary skills of the trade.

But the Harvard women's volleyball team learned a lesson this season that helps a good team become a winning team:

Age means nothing.

After starting off the season with an unimpressive 4-6 record, the Crimson (20-13, 5-2 Ivy) battled its way to the Ivy League championship match but lost to top-seeded Princeton in five close games. Even though the Crimson's championship hopes were not ultimately fulfilled, the team finally found a near-perfect chemistry between its experienced veterans and talented freshmen.

"I was really proud of the way that the team played at the Ivy Championships," said co-captain Kristen Schaeffer. "There were many times we could have given up, but we fought through every match to make our way to the finals. Even though we lost to Princeton, I think the fight and heart we showed on our way to the final match is the best characteristic of Harvard volleyball."

This year's freshman class, who ably replaced Crimson stars Kate Nash '99 and Melissa Forcum '99, added both depth and skill to the roster this season. Freshman setter Mindy Jellin, who shared Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors along with Princeton's Michelle Buffum, served as the centerpiece of a mobile Harvard offense. Jellin finished third in the league in assists with an 11.58 average and accumulated 973 assists for the season.

The Crimson's two other freshmen, outside hitter Liz Cebron and setter Vanessa Scott, saw considerable playing time this season and will play even larger roles on the court to ease the loss of four graduating seniors.

"This year's class of freshmen is really talented, very skilled and very vocal," Schaeffer said. "With the large recruiting class [of six or seven rising freshmen], they will definitely take on a bigger leadership role next season."

Complementing Jellin's talent on the front line were the skills of junior middle hitter Katherine Hart, who will serve as co-captain next year with classmate Sarah Mattson, and sophomore outside hitter Erin Denniston. Long considered one of the most versatile players in the league, Hart was named to the All-Ivy First Team after averaging 2.78 kills and 2.85 digs per game and led the team with 107 blocks for the year.

Denniston enjoyed a breakthrough season this year and received First Team All-Ivy honors after averaging 3.74 kills per game, which was fourth best in the league.

In spite of the talent and promise of next year's roster, the team will find it difficult to replace Schaeffer, co-captain Linda Jellison and defensive specialists Laurel Rayburn and Kristin Priscella, all of whom helped to hone the skills of the younger players and kept the Crimson in the hunt for the Ivy title.

Jellison, who earned an All-Ivy honorable mention, averaged 3.22 kills per game and was an intimidating force on the front line. Schaeffer was a vocal leader both on and off the court, and Priscella and Rayburn made key defensive contributions throughout the year.

During their four-year stint with the Crimson, this year's group of seniors made it to the league championship twice and helped the Crimson establish itself as one of the league's top-tier teams.

"We have expanded our [schedule] to include top-level teams, including some that are nationally ranked," Schaeffer said. "I think Coach [Jennifer] Weiss has done a great job of beefing up our schedule. I think we've come a long way in my four years [towards] establishing ourselves as a good team within the Ivy League."

Although the Crimson lost in a heartbreaking five-game match to Princeton in the league championship, it was able to erase its early-season demons with two four-match win streaks during the year and found the right chemistry together both on and off the court.

In spite of its loss to the Tigers, the Crimson can still take pride in its achievements look forward to the year ahead.

"The girls have a great future for next season," Schaeffer said. "They have four great seniors to provide awesome play and good leadership, a solid group of juniors and sophomores and a talented class of freshmen. Although the team will be young, I think that will translate into energy and enthusiasm. They have the potential and drive to get back to the Ivy Championship finals, win them and make Harvard's first appearance in the NCAAs."

Although some would consider Harvard's NCAA chances to be slim next season, the Crimson has proven itself to the rest of the Ivy League as a force to be feared for years to come.