Harvard’s defense hinged on freshman libero Sydney Vach, who recorded a team-high 17 digs.

Hitter and fellow rookie Mindie Mabry also impressed on the offensive side, delivering nine kills and 11.5 total points for the Crimson.

“The freshmen did great for their first tournament.” Kebe said. “ They were able to stay composed under the pressure, and we are really proud of their performance this weekend. Volleyball-wise, they definitely have some great skills.”

STONY BROOK 3, HARVARD 1

The Seawolves (3-4) captured their second win of the season on Friday night, defeating the Crimson in four sets.

Harvard’s lone game win came in the second set, when a match-high 18 kills and .444 hitting percentage allowed the Crimson to edge out Stony Brook, 25-22.

In that set, sophomore blocker Sope Adeleye earned four of her six total kills in the contest, while Cornelius ended the set with six finishes. A crucial attacking spree by Cornelius in the middle of the frame allowed the Crimson to break away from the Seawolves and earn the point.

However ,Stony Brook bounced back from the second set, defeating Harvard 25-16 in the third set and 25-19 in the fourth. While Cornelius’s nine kills marked a team high for the Crimson, four players on the Seawolves managed to end the night with double-digit kill totals.

Leading Stony Brook was junior blocker McKyla Brooks, who earned the Seawolves 17 points through her attacking prowess.

Searching for the season’s first victory, Harvard will travel to Dayton, Ohio, this weekend as it plays in the Holiday Inn Invitational against Midwest foes Wright State, West Virginia, and Texas Tech.

“Winning the Ivy League is our main overarching goal this season, something we haven’t done for a long time.” Kebe said. “Since we have such a young team, being able to work together and be adaptable in multiple positions will be really important for the team to be successful.”

—Staff writer Henry Zhu can be reached at henry.zhu@thecrimson.com.