Despite Northwestern’s convincing victory, Pettit remained optimistic after the match.
“Northwestern is a very competitive, high-level team, and we held our own against them,” the co-captain said. “We were leading most of the first set. That was something very good for our confidence level, recognizing that we can play at a very high level.”
Ingersoll agreed, stating that the match was “a good building-off point for us to take into Ivies next week.”
Pettit believes that after playing point-for-point with a top-level Big 10 squad, the team has grown even closer and is working even stronger together as a unit.
“Volleyball is a game of movement, and momentum comes from good team chemistry, and that was there today and this weekend,” Pettit said.
MARQUETTE 3, HARVARD 0
Harvard started off its tournament Friday night with a straight-sets defeat, losing to Charlotte, 25-15, 25-15, 25-18.
Comrie and Wu led the way for the Crimson with eight kills and 10 digs, respectively. The Crimson also got help from its young core, with freshmen and sophomores representing four of the match’s six starters.
“A lot of the sophomores and freshmen are really stepping up,” Pettit said. “I’m seeing it after every single set, getting that experience under our belt with these preseason games.”
Pettit admitted that while the team’s developing youngsters continue to improve, the group is a step away from being able to compete at its highest level.
“We still haven’t established consistent play,” Pettit said. “Something that we need to work on is playing to 25, finishing the game. And then I think the wins will come.”
The night’s low point struck when freshman starting setter Natalie Doyle suffered an ankle sprain, an injury that would cause her to miss the rest of the tournament. Matters became worse when, shortly after the match, fellow freshman starter Teresa Skelly came down with food poisoning. Both players hope to be in action for Harvard’s next match, when the squad travels up to Dartmouth on Friday to kick off its Ivy League season.