Harvard also returns its top blocker in Cornelius, who also happened to be the Ivy League top blocker per set, finishing her rookie campaign with 1.55 en route to being named Ivy League Rookie of the Year and being voted onto the All-Ivy First Team. But this year, she’s adopted a heavier role off the court as well.

“She leads by example,” Bain said. “She’s very good at knowing what to say…. She goes into it very confidently, and I think confidence is the number one determinant of leadership.”

Junior Paige Kebe has also returned to an increased workload, leading the team in attacks thus far.

While Dartmouth’s record is floating above .500 as Harvard only boasts two wins, there was no common opponent between the two teams.

The Crimson’s poor record to this point was in large part a function of the level of talent that the Crimson went up against early in the season.

Harvard has dropped its last two season openers, both to Dartmouth. The Crimson did go on to sweep the Big Green on the road in a crucial midseason matchup to keep pace with Princeton.

“We always have a pretty good game against [Dartmouth],” Cornelius said. “The two games that we played against them last year were really good games…. We’re focusing on us, our strengths and our weaknesses, and just trying to improve on everything we can before we go into the game on Friday.”

—Staff writer Kurt T. Bullard can be reached at kurt.bullard@thecrimson.com.