Men's Volleyball Claims 3-0 Win at Sacred Heart

Matt Jones posted 18 kills in the victory (photo courtesy DSPics.com).

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Harvard men's volleyball team swept Sacred Heart, 3-0 (30-28, 30-23, 30-27), Saturday afternoon at the Pitt Center. Sophomore Nikola Ivica paced the team with 20 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Matt Jones recorded 18 kills, nine digs and posted four service aces.

After trading points to begin the first set, Sacred Heart (13-8, 3-1 EIVA) built a 17-12 lead. Jones led the Crimson (2-11, 2-1 EIVA) attack with two kills and a service error, along with two Sacred Heart errors to help Harvard get within one at 19-18. The teams battled for points until a block by Jones gave Harvard the lead for the remainder of the set. A kill by Jones, assisted by senior Gil Weintraub, gave the Crimson a 30-28 set win.

The second set began much like the first, with the two teams trading points until the Crimson went on a 15-5 run to bring the score to 25-16. Sacred Heart scored just seven more points, including a stretch of four in a row, as Harvard added points. Harvard sealed the set win after Sacred Heart committed an error and Weintraub added a kill to end the set at 30-23.

Sacred Heart jumped out to a 4-0 lead to start the third set, but Harvard worked its way back in and took a 10-7 lead when Jones scored four consecutive points on two kills and two service aces. Sacred Heart never regained the lead as Harvard claimed the match win with a 30-27 victory.

The Crimson recorded 53 kills as a team with 52 assists and 43 digs.

Harvard is back in action March 23 in a non-conference matchup at Springfield. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.