WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University volleyball team played a marathon two-and-a-half hour match, coming back from a pair of big deficits to win the second and third sets, but the Judges couldn't hold off visiting Ursinus College in the opener of 2024 Brandeis Invitational, 3-2. Set scores were 25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 25-23, 16-14.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis, 0-1.
• Ursinus, 1-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bears got off to a good start in the opening set, the only one that was decided by more than two points on the evening at 25-21. The Bears' Caroline Sherman led all players with five kills in the opening set.
• After being held to a .108 hitting percentage in the first set, Brandeis bounced back in the second to hit .195. The set featured 10 ties and six lead changes, with the Judges closing things out on a kill by senior outside hitter Lara Verstovsek (Houston, Texas/Episcopal). She had five kills in the set.
• The third set was an epic one. Ursinus looked to take control of the match with a 2-1 lead when they went ahead, 23-13, on a service ace by Sherman. Brandeis got a side out on a kill by Verstovsek, who stepped to the service line. She proceeded to serve out the last 12 points of the set, contributing two service aces to the cause. Senior Tatiana Wainer (North Miami Beach, Fla./Schech Hillel Community) was also big in the run, posting two kills – including the winning point – and two blocks.
• Riding a 2-1 lead, the Judges nearly made a similar, if not as dramatic, comeback in the fourth set. They trailed Ursinus, 8-2 early and by as many as eight points at 13-5. A pair of Wainer kills, a Bear error and a Verstovsek cut Brandeis's deficit in half. The Bears pushed their lead back as large as 18-12, but an 8-1 run put the lead back on the Judges' side after a block by Wainer and Anna Ertischek (Montgomery, Texas/Montgomery). Brandeis was ahead, 21-20, but the Bears closed on a 5-2 run as a Sherman kill forced the fifth set.
• Another fast start by Ursinus to the fifth set saw them take an 8-4 lead at the changeover, and they extended it to 11-5 on a Mel Eglington kill. Brandeis rallied again, winning five of the next six points to close within 12-10, with first-year Madison Haft-Abromovitch (Stratford, Conn./Rye Country Day School) contributing a pair of kills.
• Ursinus answered and had their first two match points at 14-12, but a Brandeis block and a Bear error saw the Judges fight them off to get to 14-all. Ursinus's Daejah Bazemore took care of the final two points of the match, contributing a block and a service ace as the visitors hung on for the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Brandeis was paced by Verstovsek, who led players with 21 points thanks to 18 kills and three service aces. She also had 13 digs.
• Ertischek had 20 points with 19 kills and two block assists, while first-year Kennedy Lilly (Atlanta, Ga./Eagle's Landing Christian Acad.) had 11.5 points on 10 kills and three block assists in her collegiate debut.
• Sophomores Olivia Nirode (Keller, Texas/Keller) and Ava Ferrigno (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton Community) had 18 and 17 digs to lead the defensive effort.
• First-year Alexa Ho (Queens, N.Y./Frances Lewis) had 31 assists in her first college match.
• Sherman led Ursinus with 17 kills, while Eglinton had 12. Emma Illovsky had a match-high 20 digs.
• Rachel Bernard had 23 assists, 10 digs and a match-high seven service aces for the visitors.
• Brandeis had 61 kills to 51 for Ursinus, but the Bears owned a 16-6 edge in service aces.

UP NEXT

• The Judges meet Salve Regina tomorrow at 10 a.m. and Regis College at 2 p.m. on Day 2 of the Brandeis Invitational.