Brandeis def. Babson, 3-0 (30-15, 30-21, 30-22)

Smith def. Babson, 3-0 (30-27, 30-15, 30-27)

Rhode Island College def. UMass-Boston, 3-1 (30-25, 30-26, 26-30, 30-22)

Brandeis def. Rhode Island College, 3-1 (30-12, 30-22, 26-30, 30-25)

Smith def. Umass Boston, 3-0 (30-22, 30-26, 30-26)

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University volleyball team opened its home schedule today with a 3-0 win over local rival Babson College in the opener of the Brandeis Invitational.

The Judges never trailed in the match, opening up 10-point leads in the first two games. Game three was close, with the Judges leading 19-18 before finishing up on an 11-4 run.

Brandeis was paced by junior outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach (Buffalo, N.Y.) who had 13 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Piera Carfagno (Los Angeles, Calif.) had 10 kills and a .571 hitting percentage (10 K-2 E-14 TA). A pair of rookies led the Judges in defensive categories, with outside hitter Elizabeth Villalino (Kailua, Hawaii) recording seven digs and middle blocker Nicole Smith (Marietta, Ga.) added five blocks (one solo). First-year setter Abby Blasco (Greeley, Colo.) had 38 assists.

Babson rookie outside hitter Kathryn Alea (Southborough, Mass.) led the Beavers with four kills and 11 digs, while junior libero Ryan DePaoli (Kennesaw, Ga.) adding 10 digs.

In the second match of the day, Brandeis looked like they would cruise to victory again when they faced Rhode Island College when they jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first game. RIC climbed to within 10-9 on a Brandeis error at the net, but a kill by Villalino's brought senior Katie Wrynn (Douglaston, N.Y.) to the service line. Wrynn rattled off 13 points in a row, swelling the lead to 25-9 and the judges took a 30-12 lead.

The Judges didn't trail in game two, earning a 30-22, but the final two games were not so easy. RIC trailed, 10-8, in game three when junior libero Kristina Martin (Willingford, Conn.) served the team to five straight points to give the Anchorwomen a 12-10 lead, their first of the match. The game went back and forth and was tied at 21-21 on a Brandeis blocking error. RIC went on the decisive run, outscoring Brandeis 9-5 the rest of the game for a 30-26 win. Senior Sherri Heard (Coventry, R.I.) had two kills and a block in the key run.

Game four was another back-and-forth affair, with RIC junior Kimiyo Garcia (Riverside, R.I.) converting six early kills to stake the Anchorwomen to an 11-8 lead. Villalino answered with seven straight points on her serve, with back-to-back aces giving the Judges a 15-11 lead. RIC answered with a 5-1 skein of their own, and the game remained tight. Tied at 22-22, a Carfagno and an RIC error gave the Judges a 24-22 lead they wouldn't relinquish, winning the match on a block by Wingenbach and sophomore Bridget McAllister (Santa Clara, Calif.)