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Brandeis Splits with WPI and Williams in Four-Setters

Brandeis Splits with WPI and Williams in Four-Setters
Posted: Sep 09, 2023

From Brandeis University Athletics

The Brandeis University volleyball team extended its winning streak to four matches with a 3-1 win over WPI in the opener of a tri-match today, but the Judges fell in the day's second contest, 3-1, against Williams.

TEAM RECORDS

  • Brandeis: 4-1.
  • WPI: 2-4.
  • Williams: 3-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS WPI (Set scores 25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 25-17)

  • The Judges were paced by a trio of attackers who accounted for 39 of the team's 55 kills. Junior Lara Verstovsek (Houston, Texas/Episcopal) had 19, a season-high; sophomore Anna Ertischek (Montgomery, Texas/Lake Creek) had 11 and junior Arianna Jackson (Lewis Center, Ohio/Oletangy Orange) had nine.
  • Jackson also had four blocks and two service aces to lead the Judges.
  • Senior Ines Grom-Mansencal (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming) had 24 assists while splitting time with sophomore Julia Liang (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements), who had a career-high 19 helpers.
  • The Judges also played excellent team defense, with three players contributing at least 10 digs. First-year Olivia Nirode (Keller, Texas/Keller) had 16 to lead the way, while senior Ella Pereira (Redondo Beach, Calif./Rolling Hills Prep) had 14 and classmate Alexis Pohlmann (St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit) had a collegiate-best 12.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS WILLIAMS (Set scores 25-22, 15-25, 21-25, 24-26)

  • The Judges won the first set with an efficient attack, converting 10 of their 20 attacks into kills with just two errors for a .400 hitting percentage. Blocks and service aces were even at 1 and 3 throughout the set, with the Ephs also committing six service errors.
  • Brandeis couldn't maintain its momentum in the second, hitting just .059, and not getting over .200 for a set the rest of the way, finishing at .185. Though they held Williams to a .178 team hitting percentage and had seven blocks to the visitors' five, the Ephs had 12 services aces and 12 service errors, compared to six and 16 for the Judges.
  • Individually, Verstovsek had a match-high 14 kills, and Ertischek had 13, but no other Judge had more than six.
  • Grom-Mansencal had 31 assists, while Nirode added 16 digs and Verstovsek had 10 for her third double-double of the season.