Since the school year and fall sports seasons have commenced, the Women’s Volleyball team has started off strong with a 3-0 record thus far. Their first three matches of the season were at home. The home opener was played on Friday, Sept. 1 against Salve Regina University (SRU) during which the Judges won 3-2. Their second and third matches of the season were played in a doubleheader for the Judges on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Worcester State University (WSU) and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The first match of the day for the Judges concluded with a 3-0 win and the second match finished the day of playing with a 3-1 win for the Judges. Having scored three points in each game so far, the Judges are off to a great start.
In their first game of the season against the SRU Seahawks, the game started with alternating wins in the first four rounds, Brandeis winning the second and fourth while SRU won the first and third set. The game came down to the fifth set which the Judges were able to win 15-6. Leading the Judges in this match was Lara Verstovsek ’25 who had a double-double with 13 kills, 14 digs and 18 overall points scored. Verstovsek was named an Honorable Mention All-Star last year for her athletic accomplishments while playing volleyball for Brandeis. To follow in kills and digs was Anna Ertischek ’26 who nearly earned a double with 15 kills and nine digs. This set a career-high for Ertischek.
In their second game of the season, the Judges swept WSU in three sets. The Judges barely trailed in any of their three sets, decisively winning each in scores of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-17. Ertischek led the Judges with nine kills and Tatiana Wainer ’25 set a career high of eight. Rounding out the top three offensive Judges for the match, Arianna Jackson ’25 earned six kills. Each of these three players hit better than .300 for the match.
To conclude their first doubleheader of the season, the Judges earned a 3-1 win against UMass Dartmouth. The Judges won three of the four sets played against UMass Dartmouth, only losing the second by five points. This match, however, featured 15 ties and 18 lead changes, making it the most competitive of the weekend. The first set came to a tight close with two match points, but Verstovsek was able to step up big for the Judges and help win the set 26-24. Ertischek set a career high during this match with 20 kills and also hit .429 with having made only five errors.
Thus far, the first-years have already had an impressive showing with Hannah Waldron ’27, Olivia Nirode ’27 and Alexis Pohlmann ’27 all making key plays within the first three matches of the season.
Looking ahead, the Judges will face Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Williams College on Saturday, Sept. 9 at noon and 4 p.m. in a tri-match with the two opposing teams. The Judges will host this doubleheader.
