NEWTON, Mass. – The Brandeis University volleyball team played four tight sets, including a pair that went into extra points, but the Judges couldn't finish off host Lasell, falling in four sets to the Lasers. Set scores were 25-22, 18-25, 25-27, 26-28.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis, 5-3.
• Lasell, 5-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Judges jumped out to a quick lead by winning the first set, 25-22. Neither team was ahead by more than two points until Lasell won four in a row to snap an 11-all tie and take a 15-11 lead.
• Brandeis won four of the next five points to get back within one, and eventually tied the set at 18-all.
• Lasell had a four-of-five streak of their own, going ahead, 22-19, but the Judges won four straight points on the serve of senior Lara Verstovsek (Houston, Texas/Episcopal), including a pair of kills from first-year Kennedy Lilly (Atlanta, Ga./Eagle's Landing Christian Academy).
• The Lasers bounced back with a 25-18 second set, never trailing after Verstovsek's kill on the first point. The hosts led by as many as 10 points before taking the seven-point victory.
• Set three saw Lasell open up an early 9-6 lead after a five-point run. Brandeis went back on top at 16-15. The Lasers answered to get to 23-20 and had a couple of set points at 24-22. Brandeis survived those two set points and one more, but Lasell's Emily VanHouten had a kill to give the home team a 27-25 win and a 2-1 lead in the match overall.
• The fourth set followed a similar pattern. Brandeis broke through with a 6-0 run that turned a 9-8 deficit into a 14-9 lead. Lilly and senior Tatiana Wainer (Miami, Fla./Schech Hillel Community) each had two kills in the run. Lasell answered with three in a row to get within two.
• The Judges held off the Lasers until a three-point run gave the home team a 20-19 lead. The teams traded 3-0 streaks, giving Lasell a 23-22 lead. Both teams fended off set points before a Brandeis attack error ended the match, 28-26.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Verstovsek led the Judges with 16 kills, while junior Anna Ertischek (Montgomery, Texas/Lake Creek) had 11.
• First-year libero Isabella Irizarry (Guaynabo, P.R./Cupeyville School) had team-highs with eight digs and four of the team's 10 service aces. Verstovsek and Ertischek had seven and six digs each.
• Wainer and Kennedy had two block assists each, but Lasell had an excellent net presence, outblocking Brandeis, 11-4.
• First-year Samantha Lin (Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo-Atherton) finished with 27 assists.

UP NEXT

• The Judges host their second invitational of the season starting on Friday at 4 p.m. against Westfield State.