HARVARD 3, SAINT FRANCIS 0

Despite a straight-set victory for Harvard, the Saint Francis put up a fierce struggle, with the match decided by a total of seven points. After winning the first two sets, 25-22 and 26-24, the Crimson found itself tied at 23 with the Red Flash in the third game.

“The other team was serving, and they had a good server back there,” Baise said. “We just told the passers to relax and play with confidence, and we knew if we could pass the ball well and get the ball to our hitters, we could kill it.”

A service error and subsequent attack error from Saint Francis secured the win for Harvard.

The injury to White, who leads the team with 35 kills on the season, came in the first set.

“Mike Owen came in and played a great game, and our middle blockers were just extraordinary tonight, and that made the difference,” Crimson coach Brian Baise said. “[Owen] came off the bench and played a key role in a tough spot.”

St. Francis played a close match, extending its lead to as much as four in the second set. Kills by Rehkemper and Madden brought the score back within one, and the teams volleyed back and forth, never allowing the margin to surpass two.

Consecutive points by Clemens gave the Crimson a 25-24 lead, and a mishit by Saint Francis ended the set to give Harvard a 2-0 lead.

Rehkemper led the Crimson’s offensive attack with 12 kills on the night, while senior setter Rob Lothman notched 35 assists.

—Staff writer David Steinbach can be reached at dsteinbach@college.harvard.edu

—Staff writer Samantha Lin can be reached at samanthalin@college.harvard.edu