After victories in its first three Ivy League matches, the Penn volleyball team faces bigger competition, literally and figuratively, this weekend.
The Quakers (10-4, 3-0 Ivy) travel to Harvard (4-10, 3-1) to face the Crimson tonight, then go to Hanover, N.H., for a date with Dartmouth (7-8, 1-3) tomorrow.
The Big Green are a scrappy team that will make Penn work for every point, but the Quakers must first get by a Harvard squad led by Kaego Ogbechie, a 6'0" junior middle hitter.
Ogbechie represents the biggest and toughest hitter Penn has faced all season. With the additional presence of strong outside hitter Nilly Schweitzer, Penn is in for its biggest league challenge so far.
But as always, the Quakers are well prepared. Penn enters this weekend fresh off coach Kerry Major Carr's practice schedule that focused on dealing with Harvard's size.
"We used this week to practice hitting against a big block," Carr said. "Hitting around it or through it -- that's what we need to do to win."
Carr was especially wary of Ogbechie and Schweitzer, admitting that they constitute the Quakers' biggest Ivy test. While Carr does not expect her big players to be successful going toe-to-toe with Harvard's two stars, she believes her squad will prevail using superior teamwork.
"Going one-on-one against these two isn't usually going to work out," Carr said. "But we play better as a team than Harvard. They have a couple of really dangerous players, but we have the more balanced offense. We have several good hitters."
Senior setter Meghan Schloat understands the menace posed by the Crimson, but believes Penn can win this match, and any other, provided that they play their game.
"Harvard has a great player," Schloat said. "And just as important, their fans are great hecklers, but we have a plan."
Schloat also brushed off the suggestion that the Quakers might be complacent after three relatively easy league wins.
"We're so intent on our threepeat," Schloat said. "We want it so bad. The best way to prevent complacency is to keep your confidence high. That's how we handle the game mentally."
Wins in both matches would keep the Quakers at the top of the Ivy League along with Cornell -- also undefeated in the Ivies
However Penn can't look ahead toward its Oct. 25 match against Cornell; it has a huge obstacle standing in its way.
