Safian, Pirates Outlast Harvard, 3-2

Sunday, September 14

Malkin Athletic Center / Cambridge, Mass.

2:00 PM

Seton Hall University

5-4,0-0Big East

Harvard

0-5,0-0Ivy League

Seton Hall

Harvard

9/14/2025 5:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score BOX SCORE (.pdf)

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. – Freshman Daria Safian (Moscow, Russia) collected a career-high 16 kills to lead the Seton Hall volleyball team to a thrilling, 3-2 (25-23, 25-18, 15-25, 23-25, 15-7), victory over Harvard on Sunday.

The Pirates were cruising, up 2-0 in sets, and ahead 8-5 in set three, before Harvard made a dramatic comeback to stun Seton Hall with victories in sets three and four. The Hall rediscovered its offense in the final set, compiling a .533 attack percentage to run away with a 15-7 set five.

Safian was excellent again on Sunday, collecting a team-high 16 kills, with only two attack errors and a .438 attack percentage. She also had four blocks. For her efforts, Safian was named to the Harvard Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Sadie Reich (Wantagh, N.Y.) continued her stellar freshman campaign with 14 kills, eight digs and four service aces. Sophomore Gwen Adler (Barrington, Ill.) finished with 27 assists and eight digs, while Rylee Nelson (Mazeppa, Minn.) had a team-high 22 digs.

Safian with the MONSTER kill in set five!! The Pirates can taste it now!!#HALLin 🏐🏴‍☠️🔵⚪ @ESPN pic.twitter.com/L132PqItAB
— Seton Hall Volleyball (@SHUVolley) September 14, 2025

SET 1:
The opening set featured 15 ties and seven lead changes until the Pirates' finally took control late. With the score tied at 19, The Hall scored four of the next five points, and a kill by Safian gave it a 23-20 lead and forced a Harvard timeout. Out of the break, the Crimson struck back and tied the set at 23. After a Harvard service error put The Hall in set point, a kill by Senna Roberts-Navarro (Honolulu, Hi.) gave it a 25-23 victory.

SET 2:
Seton Hall sported a .389 attack percentage in the second set and the Pirates assumed control early. The Hall trailed only 1-0 in a set that also featured a pair of lengthy video review delays. Despite their stunted momentum, the Pirates managed to extend their lead to seven, 19-12, on an ace by Asli Subasili (Tekirdag, Turkiye). Harvard cut their deficit to 20-17, but the Pirates closed the set with a 5-1 burst.

SET 3:
The Pirates appeared to be in control early in set three, but Harvard came roaring back late. A kill by Maddy Loiselle (Tampa, Fla.) gave The Hall a 10-9 lead, but Harvard responded with a 10-2 run to grab a commanding 19-12 advantage. The Crimson went on to win set three in convincing fashion, 25-15. After a highly-efficient first two sets, the Pirates had nine kills and 10 attack errors in set three.

SET 4:
In another back-and-forth set, an ace by Subasili tied the set at 22. Harvard responded with back-to-back points to enter set point. A service error staved off one set point, but the Crimson were able to hold on for a 25-23 victory in set four to tie the match. The Pirates' offensive woes continued as they attacked at a .000 clip in set four, while Harvard was at .171.

SET 5:
The Pirates flipped on the offensive switch again just in time to dominate the fifth set. The Hall led wire-to-wire, scoring four of the first five points. A kill by Alex Rasmussen (Lincoln, Neb.) gave Seton Hall a commanding 12-5 lead and prompted Harvard to take its second time out. Up 13-7, a Crimson service error put The Hall in match point, and an attack error gave the Pirates the victory, 15-7.

Safian with the MONSTER kill in set five!! The Pirates can taste it now!!#HALLin 🏐🏴‍☠️🔵⚪ @ESPN pic.twitter.com/L132PqItAB
— Seton Hall Volleyball (@SHUVolley) September 14, 2025

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Safian had a career-high 16 kills, only two attack errors, a .438 attack percentage and four blocks.
Reich tallied 14 kills, eight digs and a career-high four aces.
Adler had a team-high 27 assists to go with eight digs and two aces.
Nelson had a season-high 22 digs to go with six assists.
Freshman Emilee Fuller (Louisville, Ky.) narrowly missed a double-double with 16 assists and nine digs.
Seton Hall recorded a .207 attack percentage for the match, while Harvard attacked at .226.
The Pirates finished with 58 team kills, while the Crimson had 49.
The Hall recorded 57 digs, while Harvard had 49.
Seton Hall collected 8.0 blocks and Harvard had 10.0.

NEWS & NOTES:

Seton Hall improves to 5-4 on the season, while Harvard drops to 0-5.
This was the first-ever meeting between Seton Hall and Harvard.
Seton Hall wins its first five-set match of the season.
Nelson reached at least 20 digs in a single-match for the fifth time in her career.
The Pirates' 58 team kills are a season high and their 11 service aces matched its most this season.

UP NEXT:
The Pirates will return to action next weekend when they play a pair of matches at the Maryland Invitational. The Hall will face host Maryland on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m., followed by Coppin State on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 4:00 p.m.