The Brandeis womens volleyball team hit a rough patch at the Amherst College Invitational Tournament. The Judges dropped their first three matches and then finished strong with a sweep to close out the tourney 1-3.

Brandeis (6-4) lost to Johnson and Wales University in four sets. The Judges lost the first two sets 24-30 and 28-30 respectively before rebounding to win their only game of the match 30-23. JWU put away Brandeis in the fourth game, winning by seven points (23-30). Lorraine Wingenbach 09 led the way for the team with 12 kills and 15 digs. Bridget McAllister 10 pitched in with 10 kills and four blocks, while Violette Ruggiero 09 had 41 assists.

In their second match, the Judges were able to take an early lead by winning game one 32-30. Things quickly turned sour after that as Amherst took the next three games 27-30, 14-30, and 23-30. Wingenbach had another great game with a team high 16 digs and 16 kills. Becca Schwartz 09 led the Judges on offense with 17 kills and Piera Carfagno 10 served up five aces and added three blocks.

In the third match, Brandeis was handed a four game loss by Middlebury College. The teams split the first two games 27-30 and 30-21, but Brandeis fell in to Middlebury in the last two games, 26-30 and 28-30. Carfagno had 16 kills, six aces and three blocks. Ashley Powers 08 chipped in with 11 kills and three blocks, while Wingenbach recorded her third double-double of the tournament with 11 kills and 12 digs.

The Judges stepped up their play in the final match and swept Westfield State College 30-19, 30-25, and 30-21. Wingenbach led the way, scoring her fourth double-double with 14 digs and 11 kills. She also added three aces in the winning effort. Schwartz notched 11 kills and contributed four aces. Captain Shannon Trees 08 had 14 digs and five aces.

The Judges next play Sept. 29 and 30 at the University Athletic Association round robin tournament at Emory. This will be the first of two conference round robins.