In the third game, freshman Sarah Cebron, who has been used primarily for her defense, got the nod to start at her main position as setter. She spread the ball well, with six players recording kills in the game.

“We’re really proud of her,” Pospisil said. “She works really hard—probably one of the hardest workers on the team.”

Schweitzer got the game started for the Crimson with a five-point serving run, including one ace. Any remaining Lion ferocity disappeared as Harvard’s lead grew.

The Crimson engineered a commanding 20-8 lead, making the rest of the game seem like a mere formality. The entire match lasted less than 75 minutes.

“We were looking to prove that we were one of the top teams in the Ivy League,” Turley-Molony said. “We wanted to play at the team instead of with the team, and I think we were successful at that.”

Cornell 3, Harvard 0

Two emphatic kills by Big Red outside hitter Elizabeth Bishop and middle blocker Jamie Lugo ended the third of three frustrating games for the Crimson.

“It was pretty disappointing,” Gould said. “We really felt that we could have come out stronger.”

Harvard and Cornell battled to a standstill for the first 15 points of the third game. After three blocks by Big Red middle blocker Heather Young and Lugo, Cornell took control and coasted to a 30-24 victory.

Harvard fell behind early in the second game 12-8. The Crimson recovered immediately, grabbing eight of the next 10 points to take a 16-14 lead. Pospisil led the charge with two finesse kills that exploited open holes deep in the Cornell defense.

Harvard held a 21-19 lead, but the Big Red grabbed the next six points and a comfortable four-point margin. The Crimson rallied furiously but dropped the game 30-28.

Sophomore Liz Blotky entered the rotation at the Libero position in the second game. Harvard coach Jennifer Weiss switched her defensive specialists in each game, starting with senior Nathalie Miller in the first, Blotky in the second and co-captain Allison Bendush in the third.

“I was a little disappointed in how I played, but it was nice to fill a role and do my part,” Blotky said.

Harvard never could find its rhythm in game one. The Crimson fell behind 14-8 and never could recover, dropping the first frame 30-16.

—Staff writer Michael R. James can be reached at mrjames@fas.harvard.edu.