Boston College Athletics
BC Defeats Cross-Town Rival Harvard, 3-2
September 11, 1999 | Volleyball
Sept. 11, 1999
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The Boston College women's volleyball team (3-4) participated in its second consecutive five-game match, defeating Harvard University 3-2 (15-7, 8-15, 15-4, 8-15, 17-15) in the New England Invitational Saturday in Chestnut Hill. That competition was the third match decided in five games at the two-day tournament. BC stopped a three-game slide to improve to 3-4 while Harvard suffered a season-opening loss.
Julia El-Hag, (Bedford, N.Y./Fox Lane), who made 14 kills, was one kill shy of her season best mark (15) set this afternoon in the 3-2 loss to Saint Peter's. In addition to her offensive surge, El-Hag accumulated 15 digs, second best on the squad. Senior Laura DeLong (Bay Village, Ohio/Magnificat) matched El-Hag's 14-kill performance while also tallying three block assists.
BC setter Kyleen Charlton (Tampa, Fla./Academy of the Holy Name) made 49 assists, contributing to a tournament total of 114. She also served two aces. Freshman Lauren Schwer (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) registered an Eagle best 17 digs, and fellow freshman Carolina Cruz (San Geronimo, Dominican Republic/Los Prados) totaled 14 digs.
Kristin Sprinkel (Laguna, Calif./Bishop Luers) amassed five block assists, three service aces and nine kills after posting a personal best 20 kills for the Eagles this afternoon.
Erin Denniston (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge) led all Crimson with her 19 kills, two block solos and two block assists. Julie Yick (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos) notched 50 assists while teammate Angela Lutich (Tucson, Ariz./ Salpointe Catholic) recorded 25 digs.
Down by four points in the first game, BC rallied to knot the game at six then score five points, powered by DeLong's serve to lead 11-6 en route to a 15-7 victory. Harvard led most of the way in game two, ripping off seven consecutive points with Denniston behind the line.
Kyleen Charlton's serve sparked a break at three-three in the third game, giving Boston College the 8-3 advantage before a Crimson side out. The Eagles allowed only one point after that, winning the third, 15-4.
Harvard erased a 7-2 deficit in the fourth game to earn the 15-8 decision, forcing a fifth game. But, BC struck gold on its second match-point opportunity, gaining the two-point advantage in rally points 17-15.
BC entertains the University of Portland (0-4) at 12 noon Sunday in Power Gym while the Crimson host the remainder of the tournament Sunday at the Malkin Athletic Center. Harvard faces Saint Peter's at 12 noon and Portland at 4:00 p.m.
