WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University volleyball team closed out its 2025 season on a high note this morning with a three-set win over the University of Rochester in the seventh-place match of the 2025 University Athletic Association tournament. Set scores were 25-9, 25-19, 25-18.
TEAM RECORDS
- Brandeis, 13-18.
- Rochester, 4-23.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Judges cruised to the first set, scoring the first 11 points thanks to some excellent serving from junior Olivia Nirode (Keller, Texas/Keller), who had three service aces, and a pair of blocks.
- The Judges outhit the Yellowjackets, .333 to negative .143, in the opener.
- UR took its first lead in the second set by winning the first point, then went ahead by as many as three points. They led as late as 12-11 when Brandeis went on a 6-1 run that was capped by a solo block and a kill from first-year Claudia Aber (Los Angeles, Calif./Taft Charter School).
- Brandeis never trailed again, as they went the entire set without making an attack error. The Judges and Yellowjackets each had 11 kills, but UR also made nine errors for a .324 to .050 hitting percentage difference.
- The visitors got off to another fast start in the third, taking a 6-2 lead early.
- Still trailing 8-6, the Judges rattled off five straight points on the serve of sophomore Isabella Irizarry (Guaynabo, P.R./Cupeyville School) to take an 11-8 advantage that they would not relinquish.
- The Judges' final point was fittingly won on a kill from senior Anna Ertischek (Montgomery, Texas/Lake Creek), the Judges' team leader and the UAA's leader in total kills (434) and points (504.5).
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ertischek led the Judges with eight kills. She ended her career sixth on the Judges' career list with 1282, while her 1442 points are eighth all-time.
- Her 434 kills are tied for 10th in a single season and her 504.5 points are just the 12th in school history to reach 500 for a campaign.
- First-year Colette Ejang (Los Angeles, Calif./Taft Charter School) added seven kills and sophomore Madison Haft-Abromovitch (Stratford, Conn./Rye Country Day School) had six.
- Nirode and Irizarry each added three points on service aces, while Aber had five blocks (three solo).
- Irizarry added 12 digs on defense, while sophomore Alexa Ho (Queens, N.Y./Francis Lewis) had 24 assists.