After a 13-game losing streak, Brandeis women’s volleyball started to turn things around with a sweep of Lasell College on Tuesday night, Oct. 28. The Judges defeated the local rival 3-0 in a quick game at home. The win brings the Judges to a record of 6-20, while Lasell fell to 6-26.
The Judges didn’t let Lasell in, keeping a comfortable lead in all three sets with final scores of 25-18, 25-13, and 25-13. The Judges started off strong, and held that energy through each set. In the first two sets the Judges jumped ahead with leads of 9-2 in the first start and 10-0 in the second set. The Judges let the competitor in toward the end of the first two sets, allowing them to close the gap to 7 in the first set and 12 in the second set. The comfortable leads and injuries allowed many players to get time.
However, the Judges couldn’t keep up the energy they had so diligently started with. In the third set, Lasell took an early lead of 5-2. It wasn’t until outside hitter Jessie Moore ’18 served eight points in a row that the Judges managed to get ahead of Lasell. With Moore’s stunning serving, Brandeis got the lead it needed and sealed the deal. Adding to Moore’s streak were four kills, two by Jessica Kaufman ’17 and two by Shemira Pennyman ’15 to help Brandeis ensure the win.
The team kept together a strong, balanced offensive attack. Right-side hitter Summer Koop ’16 led them with seven kills against Lasell’s hap-hazard defense. Pennyman, Moore and middle blocker Maddie Engeler ’17 each helped their team with six kills. While Koop held the team high, Engeler was the most consistent with a .750 hitting percentage for the match. At the base of the Judges’ offense was setter Julie Kim ’18, who turned out an impressive 23 assists and four service aces during Tuesday night’s game. The team as a whole had a season high of .272, meaning 32 kills, 10 errors, and 81 total attacks. The 10 attack errors were a season low for the Judges.
Engeler also helped her team with three blocks, two of which were solo, while Koop also contributed to the tight Brandeis defense with two blocks, one solo. Libero Elsie Bernaiche ’15 was the defensive core for the Judges. Bernaiche had a match-high 12 digs, keeping Lasell’s offense at bay.
By the numbers, Lasell produced a good game, just not good enough to beat the Judges. Lasell’s Meredith Eagan ’18 had six kills, while Kathy Cameron ’15 and Odina Ellis ’18 each had five kills. Setter Taylor Tiezzi ’18 had 13 assists during the match, and libero Cassandra Stout ’17 recorded seven digs.
The Brandeis women’s volleyball team plays again Saturday, Nov. 1 at home against Babson at 12 p.m. and Eastern Connecticut State at 4 p.m. The four seniors will be honored before the final game against ECSU at 4 p.m.
