Eagles Fall in Five Sets to Crimson

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Boston College volleyball team suffered its first loss of the year on Thursday evening, dropping a five-set contest to Harvard on the first day of the New England Challenge, 23-25, 25-19, 21-15, 25-22.

Boston College (9-1) hit a .203 attack percentage (56 kills – 24 errors – 158 total attempts) and out blocked the Crimson 16-13, but Harvard (3-4) recorded a .256 clip (72 – 28 – 172) to best the Eagles.

Juniors Cat Balido (17 kills, 13 digs) and Jill Strockis (10 kills, 16 digs) each recorded double-doubles in the loss. Sophomore Ally Mullen tallied a match-high nine blocks while junior Jane DeJarld led the Eagles with 24 assists and two service aces.

New England Challenge
Harvard 3, Boston College 2
September 13, 2018
Malkin Athletic Center

BC HIGHLIGHTS
- BC recorded nine-straight victories to start the 2018 season, the second-most consecutive wins in program history.
- Two Eagles, Cat Balido and Jill Strockis, recorded double-doubles in the loss. Balido's 17 kills are a season-best while her 13 digs mark her career-high.
- BC committed the fewest number of service errors (3) against any opponent this season.
- The Eagles' 16 blocks were the most against any team so far this year. Ally Mullen led the Eagles with a career-high nine blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 – The Crimson jumped to a 6-0 advantage, extending the lead to seven (8-1) after a BC timeout. The Eagles then went on a 5-1 run to trail 9-6 before the teams traded the next 10 points. Later in the set, Harvard called time after a three-point run had the Eagles trailing by one, 17-16. The Crimson edged the Eagles 8-7 through the remaining points to claim set one, 25-23.

Set 2 – BC began with a 4-1 lead but the Crimson pulled even and the teams forged four tie points in the tight set, up to 15-15. After trading short runs, BC called a timeout when a Crimson service error had the Eagles trailing by one, 18-17. Out of the break, BC went on an 8-1 surge to take the frame, 25-19, and knot the match at one apiece.

Set 3 – Harvard took the lead back in set three, battling the Eagles to a 25-21 victory. Boston College fell behind 3-1, but returned on a 3-1 run to tie the set at four all. The teams traded points through 11-11 until the Crimson went on a 4-1 run to gain a 15-12 advantage. BC came back with a 4-2 run of its own to trail 17-16 before Harvard forced set point with a 7-2 surge. The Eagles held off three set points but ultimately dropped the frame.

Set 4 – The Eagles forced a winner-take-all fifth set after cruising to a 25-22 victory in the fourth. One BC took a lead, it held the Crimson at arm's length until three straight points cut the Eagles' lead to nothing (9-9). After a 4-3 run gave Boston College a 13-11 advantage, Harvard tied the match up and the teams split the following eight points evenly to remain tied, 17-17. Two straight point for BC forced a Harvard timeout but the Eagles edged the Crimson 6-5 to tie the match back up, 2-2.

Set 5 – In the final frame, Harvard shot to a 5-1 lead and forced BC to call timeout. The Eagles gained some ground but still trailed 8-5 at the switch. Going point-for-point out of the swap, BC trailed by only two (10-8) when the Crimson scored three unanswered to lead 13-8 and drove BC to use another regroup. BC went 3-2 from the break, but the rally came too late and the Crimson grabbed the set, 15-11, for the Eagles' first loss of the season.

UP NEXT
The Eagles host UMass Lowell on the second day of the New England Challenge, welcoming the River Hawks (1-9) to Power Gym for a 6 p.m. match that will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Next Event

Team Stats

Cat Balido

Jill Strockis

Ally Mullen

Clare Naughton

Players Mentioned

Cat Balido

Jane DeJarld

Ally Mullen

Jill Strockis

Players Mentioned

Cat Balido

Jane DeJarld

Ally Mullen

Jill Strockis