Brandeis Edges Rochester in Five Sets to Earn First UAA Win

Brandeis Edges Rochester in Five Sets to Earn First UAA Win

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Adam Levin '94

The Brandeis University volleyball team survived a five-set match against the University of Rochester today to claim the seventh seed in the upcoming University Athletic Association tournament. The Judges had previously dropped a three-set decision to #13-ranked Washington University at the Round Robin hosted at the University of Chicago.

TEAM RECORDS
  • Brandeis, 10-14, 1-6 UAA.
  • Washington University, 19-6, 5-2 UAA, ranked #13 in Division III by American Volleyball Coaches Association.
  • Rochester, 4-18, 0-7 UAA.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. ROCHESTER (25-20, 25-19, 23-25, 18-25, 15-11)
  • The Judges were able to overcome losing starting setter Alexa Ho (Queens, N.Y./Francis Lewis) in the opening match to defeat the Yellowjackets.
  • Despite UR finishing with two more kills and two more aces, Brandeis was able to take advantage of their 38 attack errors, including 11 blocks – matching their season-high, and nine service errors, to emerge with the win.
  • Brandeis had a balanced attack, with senior Anna Ertischek (Montgomery, Texas/Lake Creek) and sophomore Madison Haft-Abromovitch (Stratford, Conn./Rye Country Day School) each finishing with 13 kills and first-year Claudia Aber (Los Angeles, Calif./Taft Charter School) adding a career-high 10.
  • Filling in for Ho, sophomore Isabella Irizarry (Guaynabo, P.R./Cupeyville School) and senior Megan Margolis (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) shared setting duties, finishing with 19 and 14 assists, respectively.
  • First-year Lara Demoraes (Plantation, Fla./Cypress Bay) led the defense with 19 digs, while also contributing a team-high four service aces on offense. Classmate Colette Ejang (Los Angeles, Calif./Taft Charter School) led the net defense with six blocks, including a career-high four solo.
  • After Brandeis won the first two sets and Rochester took the next two, Brandeis took a 4-1 lead in the decisive fifth set and never trailed again.
  • The Judges went ahead, 9-4, on a kill by Haft-Abromovitch, and took another five-point lead at 11-6 on a Demoraes service ace.
  • Rochester closed to within 12-11, but sophomore Kay Menendez (Madrid, Spain/American School of Madrid) delivered a kill to kick off a 3-0 streak to close out the set and the match, 15-11.
  • With the win, the Judges secure a fourth-straight 10-win season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. WASHU (20-25, 16-25, 14-25)
  • The Bears, who went on to clinch the second seed in the UAA later in the day with a win over Emory, held the Judges to a season-low 19 kills. WashU outhit Brandeis, .235 to .048 for the match.
  • Ertischek was held to six kills, just the fourth time all season she was limited to single figures.
  • Margolis had 11 assists after Ho suffered her injury, while junior Olivia Nirode (Keller, Texas/Keller) had eight digs.
  • The Judges and Bears will meet in the first round of the UAA tournament next weekend.