From NYU Athletics

New York University's 10th-ranked women's volleyball team split its two matches on the first day of University Athletic Association (UAA) Round Robin #1 on Saturday in Cleveland.

The Violets swept Brandeis University (25-17, 25-11, 25-15) to begin the day, extending their win streak to 11 matches, before falling to host Case Western Reserve University (20-25, 19-25, 20-25).

NYU is now 11-2 (1-1 UAA) on the season and takes on 12th-ranked Washington University in St. Louis tomorrow to conclude the opening weekend of UAA play.

Against Brandeis, the Violets trailed 14-13 in the first before closing the set on a 12-3 run for a 25-17 victory. The second was also close early, with NYU leading 9-8, but the Violets outscored Brandeis 16-3 the rest of the way for a 25-11 win.

NYU took the third 25-15, featuring five points in the set from Grace Nelson, to secure the sweep and open Association play with a victory. Ella Weider notched a match-high 11 kills on .500 hitting, along with four digs and three total blocks.

Nelson finished with eight kills (.375), four digs and two service aces. Ava Launsbach totaled a match-high 12 assists while Lindsey Hirano delivered a match-high 12 digs.

The host Spartans started strong against two-time reigning regular season champion NYU, leading for the entirety of the first set. The Violets came within three points multiple times late but ultimately fell 25-20. 

CWRU controlled the second as well, despite NYU coming within two points late (20-18) on a Nelson ace. The Spartans responded with a 5-1 run to win 25-19 and take a 2-0 lead in games.

Set three was tied five times but, with the score knotted at 20-20, Case Western Reserve scored five consecutive points to complete the sweep.

Nelson posted a team-high 12 kills in defeat with Camille Nazor adding eight, Weider chipping in six and Elise Curtin finishing with five. Dominique Drust collected a team-high 15 assists while Launsbach secured a double-double with 11 assists and 11 digs.

Hirano finished with 12-or-more digs for the 11th time this season, notching a match-high 22.