Crimson Looks to Work Its Way Up the Ivy League Standings

Photo of Mikaella Comrie courtesty of Gil Talbot.

The Harvard women's volleyball team returns two All-Ivy League honorees and six starters from last season and look to work its way up the Ivy League standings. The Crimson opens its 2009 campaign by hosting Colgate, Stony Brook and Toledo in the Harvard Invitational beginning Friday, Sept. 4.

A young Crimson squad was battled tested last season forcing extra set matches in 13 contests and forcing a fifth set six times. With more experience under its belt, strong leadership from its five seniors and a group of five athletic freshmen, the Crimson could make a run at its first Ivy League title since 2004.

"This year brings us another enthusiastic, talented group of freshmen," head coach Jen Weiss said.  "With a combination of an experienced and poised senior class and a hard-working team we will be fighting for the title once again.  The senior class has led by example and will continue to lead as a group as we head into the 2009 season.

"This preseason I have noticed that this team in particular just loves to compete and with that they work hard," Weiss added. "They have consistently challenged each other to be better in practice.  We are set to play strong preseason matches with two of the teams in the top 25. This, in turn, will prepare us for league play and I know the women are looking forward to it.  We have a confident and prepared group".   

Harvard's returning league honorees include sophomore Ann Carroll Ingersoll, who was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Ivy League honorable mention lists and classmate Christine Wu, who also received honorable mention honors. Ingersoll led the Crimson and was second in the Ivy League in blocks with 87. She was second on the team in kills with 245 and was third in the Ivy League in hitting percentage with a .345 clip. She posted double-digit kills 12 times.  

"Ann Carroll, Christine and their classmates had a fabulous freshmen campaign," Weiss continued.  "We did loss some matches by a very close margin last year but with this determined, group this year I see us coming out on top of the close matches." 

Wu earned a spot as the starting libero during the season and proved she was deserving of the position. She finished the season with 378 digs, which ranked sixth in the Ivy League. She posted double-digit digs 17 times, including seven straight to end the season. The defensive specialist had 20 or more digs seven times and posted 30 or more three times. She registered a career-high 40 digs in a five- set match against Princeton.

Also returning is senior captain Chelsea Ono Horn who started all 26 matches last season at outside hitter.  Ono Horn, one of Harvard's two captains this fall, led the Crimson in aces and was second on the team in blocks. Junior Mikaelle Comrie appeared in 25 of the Crimson's 26 contests and posted 238 kills, which was good for third on the team. She recorded double-digit kills 11 times.  Junior Emily Harburg and sophomore Natalie Sandman also saw action at outside hitter. Freshmen Taylor Docter and Jennifer Martin will challenge for playing time on the outside.

Senior Alissa Flesher and sophomore Sandra Lynne Fryhofer formed a force to reckon with at middle blocker last fall. Fryhofer started 20 of the 21 matches she appeared in before suffering a season ending injury. She was fourth on the team in kills with 143, despite missing five contests. She was second among Crimson players in hitting with a .287 clip. Flesher appeared in 15 matches and started six. She will look to pick up where she left off at the end of last season after averaging 11 kills and 2.5 blocks in her final four matches of the season.

Senior setters Lily Durwood posted career numbers in assists last fall. She led the team and was second in the Ancient Eight in assists with 1,034. She registered 50 or more assists in 10 matches, including 61 hand outs in a 3-1 win against Dartmouth. Sophomore Paige Livingston and newcomer Beth Kinsella will provided additional support at that position.

Katherine Kocurek, a senior defensive specialist, is just 181 digs away from the all-time digs record at Harvard. She was second on the team and ninth in the Ivy League in digs with 348 and also finished econd on the team in service aces with 24. She had 20 or more digs in five matches and recorded double-digit digs in 17 contests. Junior captain Miyoko Pettit and freshman Olivia Staffon will provide depth at perhaps Harvard's strongest position. 

Durwood and Kocurek will continue to rewrite history in their final season after posting several marks in the Harvard annals a season ago. Durwood's 1,034 assists rank seventh in the single season assist lists and her 10.77 helpers per game was good for fifth in the season annals. She moved into third all-time in assists at Harvard with 2,460. Kocurek added her name to the single season digs per game list for the third time, with the 2008 season ranking ninth (3.59). Kocurek also stands third in career digs (1,183).

The Crimson will play its first four contests at the Malkin Athletic Center before playing the next six on the road.  Harvard meets Colgate in the second game of the Harvard Invitational Friday at 7 p.m.