Volleyball title up for grabs at Ivy League Tourney

Sixth-seeded Penn faces Harvard in the opening round at Dartmouth. Four of the Ivy League's eight teams have won the Ivy League volleyball championship in the 1990s, and at this weekend's Ivy tournament at Dartmouth, at least six have a legitimate chance to bring home the title. Penn, the 1990 champion, finished in a three-way tie for fourth place this regular season, but is the sixth seed based on tiebreakers with Yale and Dartmouth. The Quakers will face Harvard tomorrow in the first round of the double-elimination tournament. For the Red and Blue, who defeated the Crimson 3-1 in the teams' regular-season battle at the Palestra, the matchup could not be better. "I think it puts us in a good position that we beat them before," Penn middle blocker Kelly Szczerba said. "They're a good team and we're not going to underestimate them, but we know how to beat them. So it'll be really good for us to go out there and play them." When the Quakers do step out onto the court tomorrow night, it will be their first meaningful time on the court since losing a 3-2 heartbreaker to La Salle on Senior Night at the Palestra on November 2. While Penn has been at its highest physical level for weeks, the Quakers' mental readiness has been a topic of concern from the very first weekend of the Ivy League season, when Penn was very flat against Yale and Brown in losing matches against both. "I think we're as mentally prepared as we're going to be," Penn coach Kerry Major said. "We've done everything possible to get them over that hump, and knowing the team, the only test left is the game." If not for the loss to Penn, the Crimson would have been locked in a three-way tie for first place in the league. There is no mistaking that Harvard is one of the Ivy League's elite teams. "Harvard has some great ability," Columbia coach Carolyn Elwood said. "There's a lot of parity at the top." Beyond Harvard's ability, the Crimson will be seeing red when they face off against the Red and Blue again. "Harvard's going to be on fire, out for revenge," Major said. "We're just going to have to deal with it and put them in their place right away. I hope we can do that, and we're prepared to do it." The Quakers will also have to adjust to whatever changes Harvard has made since their last meeting. Penn lost the first game of the October match but it's unlikely that the Quakers can afford to do that again. "They're going to have worked on their mistakes," Penn defensive specialist Alexis Zimbalist said. "We're going to have to work even harder to beat them again." Given Harvard's experience and that this contest will be on a neutral court, the Crimson will indeed be ready for the challenge. "I know what their strengths are," Harvard coach Jennifer Weiss said. "Stephanie Horan had 24 kills against us and she played a great match." Horan, who led Penn this season with 303 kills, 41 service aces and 337 digs, made last year's All-Tournament team. Also returning this year from that All-Tournament team is last year's Ivy League Player of the Year, Brown outside hitter Tomo Nakanishi, who leads the defending league champions. The Bears finished in a tie for first place this year with Princeton but will be the second seed. Should the Quakers emerge victorious against Harvard, Brown would be the likely second round opponent, as the Bears face Columbia to open the tournament. "We look back on the last time we played [Brown] and we didn't show up," Major said. "Tomo really picked on our setter, Jodie [Antypas], but that was also really before Jodie concentrated on blocking. We're prepared." With their win against Harvard and a tenacious effort in a loss to Princeton, the Quakers have shown this season that they can play with the giants of the league. Still, the Red and Blue won't surprise anybody. At this time of year, no one will. "There are really a bunch of teams that can make it," Brown coach Diane Short said. "Princeton and us had the best records, but with Penn beating Harvard, and Harvard beating Princeton, and Princeton beating us and us beating Harvard, who knows? It's been one of those seasons that can make for a very interesting tournament." Being in Hanover, it's also hard to count out the Big Green, who defeated their first-round opponent, the Elis, during the season. "Dartmouth having the home advantage and a bunch of seniors helps them," Yale coach Peg Scofield said. "We don't have any seniors out on the court right now, but I'm definitely hoping that Yale has a chance." With the fifth seed, the Elis face a favorable draw, even if they lose to the Big Green. "I think Yale [has a chance] because they've got good talent, a strong block, super net play," Short said. "Dartmouth or Yale could really sneak up on the field." While Dartmouth and Yale will be trying to sneak up on the field for what would be the first Ivy title for either team in the 1990s, Penn and Cornell owned the early part of the decade. Both teams are now laden with young talent and will try to offer a surprise to the field in Hanover. "Penn and Cornell are very similar in that we have off games and good games," Cornell coach Christie Jackson said. "If we both show up, we'll give the higher-seeded teams at least a good round, and possibly upset some teams. [The whole tournament] is up for grabs. That's what the Ivy League is. Whoever shows up [to play] is going to win."