After dominating the Odeneal Division last year and earning a berth in the Hay Division this year, the Harvard men's volleyball team is finding out that its new conference is no walk in the park.

The Crimson (5-4, 1-4 Hay) was swept by division leader NYU (6-6, 5-1), 3-0 (30-27, 30-27, 31-29), on Saturday afternoon at the Malkin Athletic Center.

Although all three games were closely contested, Harvard never managed to win key points late in each game and lost for the first time at home this season.

The Crimson was without freshman middle blocker Juan Carlos Cardet, who has missed three straight games with a sprained ankle.

"We were missing a key player, and NYU is very tough," said Harvard Coach Tom Wilson. "We just didn't make the plays when we needed to, and in that way this match was a microcosm of our season so far."

The first game went back and forth, and both teams were tied at 10-10 and later at 22-22. At that point, the Crimson took a 25-23 lead after a tip from sophomore setter Mike Bookman and a kill by junior co-captain Justin Denham.

At that point, NYU middle hitter Mitch Kallick single-handedly won the game for the Violets, recording four straight kills to spark a 7-2 NYU run that sealed the game at 30-27.

"They have great middles," Wilson said. "[Kallick and middle hitter Levi Gundert] killed us today."