Brandeis volleyball's struggles continued last weekend as in their first UAA Round Robin, the Judges fell hard: dropping the first match to Rochester 2-3. They were then swept out with losses to Emory (1-3) and Carnegie-Mellon (0-3).
The Rochester match we should have won. Coach Michelle Kim said afterwards, We played well but we just had some mental lapses at key points, which makes it kind of tough. Emory is a great team, Carnegie is a good team. We didnt play particularly well against Carnegie but I think that if we play well, I think we can give them a real good game. Emory is tough but any given day, anyone can win. So we got to come out thinking we can win against an opponent and we took them that third game. It was a hard fought game but theyre number 13 in the nation, theyre a good team and we got to give them credit when they deserve it.
Brandeis had a prime opportunity to beat Rochester, taking the first two games by scores of 30-22 each. Then it all came down, losing three straight 28-30, 26-30 and 14-16 in the final frame. Rookie Piera Carfagno 10 had a career-high 23 kills and four service aces while Lorraine Wingenbach 09 contributed her ninth double-double with 11 kills and 19 digs. Captain Shannon Trees 08 led the defense with 21 digs while Violette Ruggiero 09 had a career high in assists with 56 as well as contributing 12 digs.
Brandeis fought hard against nationally ranked Emory, losing the first two games (11-30, 18-30) before managing to take the third contest 34-32. They then dropped the last match 30-19. Carfagno led the team with 13 kills while Trees had 10 dig. The tournament ended mercilessly for the Judges, getting swept by Carnegie-Mellon 21-30, 22-30, 16-30. Rookie Bridget McAllister had nine kills while Trees had 13 digs.
The losses drop Brandeis to 6-7, putting them under .500 for the first time this season. They go on the road to the Crabtree Classic where they take on Salve Regina and Southern Wesleyan on the 6th and finish with matches against Johnson and Wales, and Eastern Connecticut. Last year, Brandeis finished runner up at the Crabtree Classic.
