Brandeis Volleyball opened up its 2019 season with a three-set victory over Westfield State University as part of the Springfield College Classic.
The first set was a battle going back and forth, as Brandeis opened up with a 5-2 lead only to see Westfield State go on to score seven of the next nine points, taking a 9-7 advantage. However, the Judges responded with seven points in a row on the serve of All-American Emma Bartlett ’20, which put them ahead 14-9.
Westfield State made another run taking the lead 22-1. But the Judges were resilient, scoring the set’s final four points with Amelia Oppenheimer ’23 on serve. Bartlett and Marissa Borgert ’21 also picked up blocks to close the set. In the second set it was also a back-and-forth affair. With things all knotted up at 17, the Judges scored three straight points, including two big kills from Belle Scott ’21 which gave Brandeis a 20-17 lead they would not relinquish.
In the third set, the Judges were able to take control with a 25-17 final that was clinched on a Scott service ace. The Judges hit 0.250 as a team in the third set to close the match, 25-22, 25-22, 25-17. Scott had quite the impressive outing, with a career-high 11 kills, marking the first time in her collegiate career she reached double figures.
Scott also added two aces, one block and eight digs on the day. Bartlett led the Judges in scoring with nine kills, a match-high five aces and five blocks for 16.5 points. She also contributed eight digs in her efforts. Borgert registered a double-double with 33 assists, her fifth time over 30 in her career and the first time she did so in a three-set match.
In the second day of action, the Judges won their first, but struggled with the rest of the day. They suffered losses to both Keene State and host Springfield College.
In their match against Keene State, the Judges came out strong, taking the first set 25-20. In the second set, they initially took a 12-11 lead, however, Keene State responded with a nine point lead, taking the set 25-19. While they were ahead in the third set 12-9, the Judges couldn’t hold onto their lead and Keene State scored six points in a row to a 25-22 set win. The final score of the game was 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 18-25.
Bartlett once again led the way with a match high, 16 kills. She also had just four errors in 34 attacks for a .353 hitting percentage. Bartlett registered her first double-double of the season with 13 digs, tied for team-high honors with junior setter Borgert who also had a double-double, adding 37 assists to her 13 digs.
In their second match of the day against Springfield, the Pride out-hit the Judges in all aspects. Springfield ended with a .522 hitting percentage from their 14 kills, two errors and 23 assists in their second-set win. The Pride swept the Judges 3-0, 25-23, 25-11, 25-20.
Individually, Brandeis was led by Kaisa Newberg ’22 and middle-hitter Scott, who each had seven kills. Bartlett and Borgert each had eight digs, with Bartlett adding five blocks, and Borgert contributing another 18 assists and three service aces. Scott was also named to the All-Tournament team.
The Judge’s will return to action next weekend at the Connecticut College Invitational, taking on DeSales, Johnson & Wales and host Camels.
