Co-captain Erik Kuld exploded on offense for the Harvard men’s volleyball team against NYU on Saturday, notching a game-high 26 kills and a season-high .488 hitting percentage. Kuld also added a service ace and 10 digs.

Despite starting the season 0-11 in the non-conference portion of its schedule, Saturday’s victory over New York University (4-14, 0-5 EIVA Hay Division) moved the Harvard men’s volleyball team (3-12, 3-1 EIVA Hay Division) into sole possession of second place in its division.

Playing in front of a supportive crowd at the Malkin Athletic Center, the Crimson captured its first home victory of the season with the 3-1 win (30-28, 28-30, 31-29, 30-22).

“The team played phenomenally,” said co-captain Erik Kuld, who led the team with 26 kills. “Best game of the year.”

After trading the first two sets, Harvard orchestrated a comeback in the third set, recovering from a late six-point deficit to take the lead and the momentum heading into the fourth.

Trailing 16-22 in the third set, the Crimson managed to climb back, knotting the score at 25 with a block from senior Soren Rosier.

After a missed serve from co-captain Gil Weintraub, Harvard tied it up again behind a kill from sophomore Matt Jones.

Kuld then snatched the lead for the Crimson, getting a spike to fall. But the Violets regained the lead with a kill from Pattrick Dodd, which forced the Crimson to take a timeout.

Harvard came out of the timeout on a tear, tying the game at 28 with a block and then taking the lead after NYU was whistled for too many touches.

The Violets tied the score at 29 with a kill from Luke Hamlet, but gave the lead right back to the Crimson with a service error.

Harvard closed out the set when Weintraub set up Kuld on the outside, who finished with the kill.

“We knew we could beat them,” Kuld said. “We came in expecting to beat them. When things started going right, we really just accelerated.”

With the 2-1 lead and momentum on its side, the Crimson came out on fire to start the fourth set, taking 10-6 lead behind a Weintraub kill.

But NYU did not give up without a fight, chipping away at the deficit until it tied the score at 17. But just when the Violets started to get back into the game, Harvard stepped up.

Kuld put the Crimson ahead, 19-17, with an ace, and then up by four with a tip. Kuld then demonstrated his versatility, coming up with blocks on back-to-back points to put his team up, 26-20.

[Kuld] did everything tonight,” Harvard coach Brian Baise said. “He anchored our passing, had some key blocks. He really stepped up today.”

“Erik Kuld at the end of game four—just unstoppable,” Weintraub added.

Weintraub gave Harvard match point, notching his tenth kill of the contest. Jones closed it out with a thundering kill, his 22nd of the match.

The Crimson dominated offensively, finishing with 73 kills. Freshman Rob Lothman orchestrated the offense, finishing with 61 assists—a career high.

But it was when Harvard broke down defensively that the Crimson let the visitors back into the game.

After taking the first set, 30-28, NYU came out strong in the second, jumping out to a 14-11 advantage. The Crimson climbed back, tying the score at 15, but an attacking error put the home team down, 22-18.

Harvard got within three after Kuld notched two kills, and then within one following a kill from Jones. But the Crimson did not come closer than that, as it dropped the set, 30-28.

“We had a streak in the middle of the [second] game where we made a series of errors,” Baise said. “They started hitting really well. We started fighting back at the end, but it was too late.”

Harvard recovered from the setback in the second game, though, taking the final two sets to capture its third win of the season.

Luckily for the Crimson, its wins have come at the right time—in conference play.

“We had something to prove that we’re not to be counted out,” Weintraub said. “We’re going to be a contender this year and I think we’re making a great statement.”

—Staff writer Martin Kessler can be reached at martin.kessler@college.harvard.edu.