WALTHAM, Mass. – In their first match of the season decided by more than three sets, the Brandeis University volleyball team rallied from a set down to defeat visiting Endicott College, 3-1, in Auerbach Arena tonight. Set scores were 17-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-12. The Judges improve to 6-2 on the season with their fourth home win in a row, while the Gulls fall to 3-4.
Brandeis struggled on the attack in the first set with a just four kills and 11 errors in 34 attacks. The Judges righted the ship in the final three sets, making just six errors the rest of the way, including 14 kills without an error in 32 chances in the third set for a .438 team hitting percentage. Brandeis also had a season-high 12 service aces in the match.
Offensively, the hosts were paced by rookie outside hitter Liz Hood (Albuquerque, N.M./Albuquerque Acad.), who had 16 kills and five service aces, a career-high. Hood had a key service run in the second set. With Brandeis trailing, 12-11, she fired off three aces in a row, giving her team a 13-12 lead.
Sophomore outside hitter Si-Si Hensley (Fullerton, Calif./Troy) added 10 kills, while junior Susan Sun (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) had a fine all-around match with seven kills, 17 digs and four service aces. Sun picked up three kills early in the second set to help set the tone for the Judges' comeback.
Rookie libero Elsie Bernaiche (Planstville, Conn./Southington) had a career-high 27 digs, while sophomore setter Yael Einhorn's (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) 39 assists were a season-best.
Endicott rookie outside hitter Alexandra Gearin (Los Angeles, Calif./Pacifica Christian) tied for team-high honors with nine kills, joining senior right-side Elyse Barbour (Greenville, R.I./Mount Saint Charles). Gearin also had six digs. Senior setter Sarah Allshouse (Berthoud, Colo./Berthoud) had a double-double with 22 assists and a team-high 11 digs, while junior libero Ashley Norley (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury) had 10 digs.
Brandeis is in New London, N.H., on Saturday for a tri-match with Emmanuel and host Colby-Sawyer, while EC heads west for the Colorado College Invitational this weekend, where they will face Concordia Moorhead, Colorado College and Brandeis's UAA conference-mate, Washington (Mo.) University.
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