WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior
Lara Verstovsek of
Houston, Texas, from the volleyball team and sophomore
Aidan Chuang of
New York, N.Y., and the men’s soccer team have been named the Brandeis University Athletes of the Week for the week ending September 15. The Brandeis Athlete of the Week program is presented by The Chateau Restaurant and Jake N Joes Bar and Grill.
Verstovsek turned in a fine all-around week as the Judges went 2-2. She led the team in kills (63) and points (73.5), finished second with 16 digs and six service aces and third with nine blocks. She hit for a .155 hitting percentage, with 63 kills and 39 errors in 155 attempts. Verstovsek had 16 kills, three service aces and seven digs in a 3-1 loss at Lasell University; 12 kills, five digs and four blocks in a three-set win over Westfield State, a season-high 20 kills and 13 digs in a five-set loss to Bowdoin and 15 kills, 11 digs and four blocks in a come-from-behind five-set win over Springfield.
Overall this season, Verstovsek leads the Judges and is second in the University Athletic Association in kills (3.65 kills per set) and points (4.33 points per set) and ranks sixth in service aces (0.49 aces per set). Her 157 total kills are ranked 18
th in Division III, while her 186 points are ranked 17
th.
Brandeis is back in action on Saturday afternoon for a tri-match with Endicott at Babson at Babson starting at 11 a.m.
Chuang had his first career three-point game in Brandeis’s 3-1 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University on Sunday, Sept. 15. With the Judges trailing, 1-0, at halftime, Chuang scored the equalizer in the 55
th minute, volleying home an assist from junior Nico Beninda. In the 78
th minute, his feed to first-year
Yoav Feingold helped the Judges score an insurance goal to make it a two-score game.
Chuang is second on the Judges with six points this season, posting two goals and two assists. He is tied for the team lead with his two helpers.
With a 3-1-1 record, Brandeis is off to its best start since 2019 this year. They will carry a three-match winning streak into their next game on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Union College in Schenectady, New York.
This is the ninth year that the Brandeis Athlete of the Week program has been presented by The Chateau Restaurant Group. The Athlete of the Year Program highlights a top Brandeis student-athlete who has had an outstanding athletic achievement from 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."
Verstovsek is a 2021 graduate of Episcopal High School. For more information on Brandeis volleyball, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/womens-volleyball.
Chuang is a 2022 graduate of Milton (Mass.) Academy. For more information on Brandeis men’s soccer visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/mens-soccer.
For more information on Brandeis athletics, visit our web page at
www.brandeisjudges.com or follow us on social media on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook @BrandeisJudges.
