Despite Harvard's attempts to climb back into game with kills by Pankau and senior outside hitter Joe Herger, MIT held on for a 15-11 victory.
MIT's surprising win energized the fans, who began shouting obscenities and taunts at the Crimson as the second game began. In particular, the raucous fans singled out junior libero Auden Velasquez for ridicule.
"The fans didn't bother me too much," Velasquez said, "In fact, their silliness motivated me to play harder."
Harvard played harder in the second game, buoyed by the massive offensive and defensive contributions by Herger.
"Herger kept his cool despite the fans and he came up with big digs and phenomenal kills," Pankau said.
Behind Herger's eight kills and eight digs in the second game, the Crimson emerged from the second game with a 15-12 win.
As the third game began, the Crimson were again welcomed onto the court by the rowdy MIT fans.
Read more in Sports
W. Basketball Heads South One Game Behind DartmouthRecommended Articles
-
M. Volleyball Falters, But Holds Off MIT 3-1On Senior Night at the Malkin Athletic Center last night, the MIT Engineers could not have found their way out
-
Men's Volleyball Falls to Springfield, 3-1Heading into second semester with an unblemished record, the Harvard men's volleyball team (2-1) faced its first tough challenge of
-
M. Volleyball Wins Home FinaleSeniors Ed Pankau and Joe Herger ended their home volleyball careers in storybook fashion. On Saturday, with relatives flying in
-
M. Volleyball Clinches Playoff Berth After Tough Week In CaliforniaWhile most Harvard students spent Spring Break in sunny locales, coaxing their brains to slowly excrete the putrescent academic mush
-
M. Volleyball Suffers Heartbreak as Princeton Wins Ivy TitlePrinceton, NJ--On Sunday night, the men's volleyball team played heroically, but ultimately came up short of officially being named champions.
-
M. Volleyball Bounces MIT, 3-1On Senior Night at the Malkin Athletic Center last night, the MIT Engineers could not have found their way out
