WALTHAM, Mass. -- Junior Jacob Morse of
Framingham, Massachusetts, and first-year
Kennedy Hilson of
Decatur, Georgia, members of the men’s soccer and volleyball teams, have been named Brandeis University Athletes of the Week for the week ending October 4. The Brandeis Athlete of the Week program is presented by The Chateau Restaurant and Jake n JOES Sports Grille.
Morse scored a pair of goals in a 1-1 week for the Judges. In a 2-0 victory against Suffolk on Sept. 29, Morse scored his second goal of the season in the 50th minute to give Brandeis some breathing room after they had scored midway through the first half. In a 3-2 defeat against Washington University in the team’s University Athletic Association opener, Morse pounced on a WashU mistake and scored just 82 seconds into the game.
Morse is now tied for the team lead with three goals and is tied for second with six points. The Judges (3-5-2, 0-1-0 UAA) return to action with their first UAA road game of the season at 11 a.m. against Emory University in Atlanta.
Hilson helped the Brandeis volleyball team secure a come-from-behind victory over Lasell University on Sept. 29. The Judges rallied from an 0-2 hole to win, 21-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-13, 15-10. Hilson had 11 kills, second-most on the team, and led the net defense with five blocks, tying her career-high. The 11 kills marked the fifth time this season that she has reached double figures this season.
Overall this season, Hilson is second on the team with 99 kills, averaging 1.87 kills per set. Her 22 blocks also lead the squad. Brandeis (7-9, 0-3 UAA) competes at Montclair State University on Friday evening in New Jersey, before heading to New York University on Sunday for the second UAA Round Robin against Case Western Reserve and Chicago.
This is the 11th year that the Brandeis Athlete of the Week program has been presented by The Chateau Restaurant Group. The Athlete of the Year Program highlights top Brandeis student-athletes who have had an outstanding athletic achievement in the week prior. Each selected student-athlete will be featured on the Brandeis athletics homepage and inside the Chateau Waltham and Jake n JOES.
Owned and operated by the Nocera Family, the Chateau Restaurant of Waltham opened in 1933 and set the standard for providing the tradition of Italian family dining, friendly service, and quality food at reasonable prices for its customers. Located on 195 School Street, with 900 seats, the Chateau is always ready to accommodate large parties.
The Nocera Family consists of 6 brothers who have always had a passion for playing sports. In 2010, the Nocera Family launched a new concept, Jake n JOES Sports Grille. Jake n JOES Waltham opened in 2014 and is the best place to watch a game and enjoy quality food.
"Brandeis student-athletes are fantastic role models in our community,” says Chateau President Joe Nocera, “They exemplify the ideals of excellence and commitment both on and off the playing field. The Chateau Waltham and Jake n JOES Waltham are proud to partner with Brandeis Athletics to continue to enhance a positive focus within the Waltham Community."
Morse is a 2025 graduate of St. George’s School, R.I. For more information on Brandeis men’s soccer, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/mens-soccer.
Hilson is a 2026 graduate of Decatur High School. For more information on Brandeis volleyball, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/wvball.
For more information on Brandeis athletics, visit our web page at www.brandeisjudges.com or follow us on social media on Instagram, Facebook, and X, @BrandeisJudges.
