MEDFORD, Mass. – The Brandeis University volleyball team improved to 3-2 this season in five-set matches tonight by holding off a rally from host Tufts University. The Judges won, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 22-25, 15-8, to claim their first victory over the Jumbos since 2002.
TEAM RECORDS
- Brandeis, 11-8.
- Tufts, 7-7.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Judges opened up an early two-set-to-none lead, 25-20 and 25-23. They outhit Tufts, .250 to .097 in the first and .200 to .143 in the second. Brandeis had four more kills (26-22) and three fewer errors (13-10) to open up their lead.
- The Jumbos bounced back in the third and fourth sets, winning both 25-22 by outhitting Brandeis .194 to .161 in the third and .289 to .216 in the fourth.
- The hosts won the attacking game with 32 kills to 23 for the Judges, though Brandeis still committed fewer errors (13-10).
- In the decisive fifth set, Brandeis took a 5-1 lead, getting kills from four different players, plus a block, as the Judges never trailed again.
- Tufts cut their deficit to 5-4, but Brandeis answered with five in a row, including a pair of service aces from first-year setter Alexa Ho (Queens, N.Y./Francis Lewis) that made it 10-4, and the Judges hung on for the 15-8 win.
- Brandeis had not defeated Tufts since the 2002 season, a stretch of 25 matches in a row.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Senior outside hitter Lara Verstovsek (Houston, Texas/Episcopal) led all players with 20 kills, reaching that plateau for the second time this season and the eighth time in her career. She had seven errors in 50 attacks for a .260 hitting percentage.
- Verstovsek also had 16 digs, second most on the team, adding two service aces, three block assists for good measure. It marked her 10th double-double of the season.
- Junior OH Anna Ertischek (Montgomery, Texas/Lake Creek) finished with 15 kills and .303 hitting percentage (15 K-5 E-33 TA), while senior middle Arianna Jackson (Lewis Center, Ohio/Oletangy Orange) matched her career-high with nine kills without an error in 17 attempts for a .529 hitting percentage, also a career-best.
- Senior Tatiana Wainer (North Miami Beach, Fla./Schech Hillel Community) contributed eight total blocks (one solo), a season-best and one shy of her career-high.
- First-year Isabella Irizarry (Guaynabo, P.R./Cupeyville School) had a match-high 25 digs. Junior Julia Liang (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements) had 26 assists, while Ho had 17.
UP NEXT
- The Judges return to University Athletic Association play on Sunday, meeting #8 Washington University and #14 Case Western Reserve. Both matches will be in St. Louis.
