While the Crimson play wasn’t flawless—the team collected 26 hitting errors—Harvard made key improvements in its blocking and serving.

“Technically this was our best blocking match,” Wilson said. “We worked hard at making good reads and putting up tight, penetrating blocks.”

The Crimson opened the match with more unforced hitting errors, allowing Southampton to take an 8-4 lead and forcing Wilson to take an early timeout.

Even after the timeout, the Colonials were able to maintain their lead as the Crimson struggled to settle down.

But a sideout kill by Kowell, who led the team with 12 kills, indicated that he felt right at home. Providing the first spark for the Crimson, Kowell followed up his kill with aggressive serving, turning a two-point deficit into a 15-13 lead.

Kowell’s offensive effort was only matched by Mosier, who also put down 12 kills. Mosier provided the Crimson with an extra burst of energy as he hit three uncontested sideout kills, maintaining Harvard’s lead at 20-18.

Kowell surged back late in the game with two dominating blocks, which he followed up with two kills. In the end, though, it was Mosier who closed out the game with a kill at the end of a hard-fought rally.

The second game began with another slow start for the Crimson as the Colonials pulled out to a quick 12-5 lead. But the Crimson did not give in.

“We did a much better job at executing on Saturday, and when Southampton managed to make a run on us we kept our heads up and put ourselves right back into the game,” Mosier said.

Kowell, Mosier and Denham added kills that gradually cut Southampton’s lead. Reppun’s serving, which included an ace, brought the Crimson within one.

Yet again it was Denham who led the final charge by terminating two sideout kills, serving seven consecutive points and bringing Harvard out to a 27-23 lead. Denham’s feat was not accomplished alone, as Kowell added two blocks and a kill to the comeback surge.

“I think that our serving and blocking are somewhat related because the consistent tough serves made blocking easier,” said Kowell. “If we can keep that kind of pressure up we’re capable of contending with most teams out there.”

Kowell was certainly able to contend with the Colonials as he ended the game with a kill.

The Crimson’s aggressive and consistent serving proved powerful again in the third game. Early on, each point was fiercely contested, but it was Denham’s seven consecutive service points that converted a Harvard two-point deficit into a 27-23 lead.

This time it was freshman outside hitter Abe Marouf who sealed Harvard’s victory with a kill.