NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Brandeis  University volleyball team pushed a nationally-ranked foe and the tournament hosts, but the Judges were defeated in four sets by both #6 Johnson and Wales and Connecticut College as part of the Conn. College/ Coast Guard Invitational today. The Judges fall to 1-5 on the season, while the Wildcats improve to 5-1 and the Camels to 2-1.

In the opening match of the day, JWU got off to a fast start, winning the first two sets by scores of 25-11 and 25-18. The Judges responded with a 25-20 win in the third, and they looked to force a fifth set by taking a 19-15 lead in the fourth. Unfortunately, Johnson and Wales closed the match on a 10-2 run, winning the last set 25-21.

Offensively, Brandeis was paced by junior middle hitter Belle Scott (Portland, Ore./Oregon Episcopal School), who had 14 kills. She also had 12 digs for her first career double-double, with both totals representing career-highs. Junior setter Marisa Borgert (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) also netted a double-double with 35 assists and 14 digs. Borgert also had four kills on her eight attempts for a .500 hitting percentage. Rookie Amelia Oppenheimer (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands) had a fine all-around match with six kills, nine digs and a match-high six service aces.

In their second match of the day, Brandeis got off to a hot start, making 14 kills and just one error in 29 attempts for a season-high .448 hitting percentage for one set to take the opener from Connecticut College, 25-13. The Judges pushed the Camels in the next three sets, but dropped all three by a combined six points, 25-23, 26-24, 26-24. In the third set, Brandeis rallied from 22-17 down to own a set point at 24-23. A well-timed Conn. College timeout halted the momentum and the hosts won the final three points. The Judges had two set points in the fourth, 24-22, but the Camels closed on a 4-0 run to clinch the match.

The Judges put three attackers in double digits in kills, led by senior outside hitter Emma Bartlett (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury), who had 14 kills and 13 digs for her second double-double of the season. Bartlett also contributed four service aces and four blocks (three solo). Scott added 13 kills and a match- and career-high 20 digs, while sophomore Kaisa Newberg (Reno, Nev./Sage Ridge School) contributed 11 kills. Borgert had a season-high 39 assists.

Brandeis returns to action next week with their home opener on Friday, September 13, against Bates College at 7 p.m.