WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University volleyball team went 1-1 on its first day of action at the Brandeis Invitational today, dropping their season opener to Regis College, 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-18, 25-20), but bouncing back to defeat Roger Williams by the same score (21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20).
TEAM RECORDS
- Brandeis, 1-1.
- Regis, 1-0.
- Roger Williams, 0-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED vs REGIS (22-25, 25-19, 18-25, 20-25)
- The Judges had 11 more kills than their opponents (50-39), but they also had six more attack errors (22-16).
- Regis also had 13-9 edge in service aces while committing half as many service errors than Brandeis (8-15).
- Senior outside hitter Anna Ertischek (Montgomery, Tex. / Lake Creek) and sophomore Madison Haft-Abromovich (Stratford, Conn. / Rye Country Day School) led the way with a match-high 15 kills, while sophomore Kennedy Lilly (Atlanta, Ga. / Eagle's Landing Christian Acad.) added 10. The 15 kills were a career-best for Haft-Abromovich.
- First-year Colette Ejang (Los Angeles, Calif. / Taft Charter School) had three blocks, while sophomore Isabella Irizarry (Guaynabo, P.R. / Cupeyville School) had 13 digs.
- Senior captain Julia Liang (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements) posted 36 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. ROGER WILLIAMS (21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20)
- After falling behind early, the Judges bounced back to win the final three sets to even their record.
- Brandeis hit about .200 in each set, including .342 in the fourth, when they had 15 kills and two errors in 38 attacks.
- Brandeis finished the match with 11 more kills (58-47) and six more digs (65-59) than the Hawks.
- RWU had a slight edge in blocks (7-6) and a larger advantage in service aces (9-4).
- The Judges finished with three players reaching double figures in kills. Ertischek led the way with 16, while Lilly and Haft-Abromovich each added 13.
- Defensively, Ertischek and first-year sisters Colette Ejang and Claudia Aber (Los Angeles, Calif. / Taft Charter School) each had three blocks.
- Irizarry had 16 digs, while junior Ava Ferrigno (Boca Raton, Fla. / Boca Raton Community) and first-year Lara Demoraes (Plantation, Fla. / Cypress Bay) each had 11.
- Sophomore Alexa Ho (Queens, N.Y. / Francis Lewis) dished out 37 of the team's 55 assists.
UP NEXT
- The Judges will meet Wentworth Institute of Technology tomorrow at 1 p.m to wrap up their weekend.