The acoustics of volleyball games amplifies these emotions. Unlike other spring sports, volleyball takes place in a gymnasium, which captures every kind of noise. This is why it’s almost always possible to know that the Crimson is playing a match by standing outside the Malkin Athletic Center and turning an ear to the sky.
On the court, the energy of the Harvard team sometimes goes nuclear during especially heart-pounding junctures. In these cases, everyone has his own strategy.
Clemens typically crouches down—which shaves a few inches off his 6’6” height—and pops his eyes wide open. It’s a wild look, and over the past four seasons, it’s become synonymous with key point victories.
Sophomore Marko Kostich may be the most excited of the bunch. As a setter, he needs to stay vocal to organize the offense, and he remains this way afterwards, shouting encouragement to teammates or just simply shouting.
“Point won or lost, he’s always yelling,” Schlossman said. “He’s very high-energy—it’s great.”
Per Schlossman, the team never plans any celebrations; whatever you see on the court is something players thought of an instant before.
However, during film sessions, Crimson players like to point out especially strange reactions on either side of the net.
Junior outside hitter Casey White is another player with noticeable excitement. Like Kostich, he stays loud throughout the match and specializes in the chest bump.
“He’s one of the people who loves to do big celebrations,” Clemens said. “[He and Marko] are both really good leaders on the court without even having a leadership position. I’m really happy with that.”
So far in 2016, high energy has led to early wins, as Harvard has climbed to second place in the EIVA. Even in defeat, Harvard has pushed opponents to the limit, as half the team’s losses have come in five sets.
Some might read this statistic as evidence of grittiness, but others might read it the way Clemens does—that this year’s Crimson is a strange case of celebration causing success, not the other way around.
“The energy is not just being hyper, but it’s also a constant energy,” Clemens said. “It’s believing in yourself while also being hyped up.”
I feel like it manifests itself in our ability to come back from tough situations,” he added. “Every time we get on the court, we’re genuinely excited to play.”
–Staff writer Sam Danello can be reached at sam.danello@thecrimson.com.