WALTHAM, Mass. -- Junior Liz Hood (Albuquerque, N.M./Albuquerque Acad.) had a terrific evening on the first night of the 2013 Brandeis Volleyball Invitational, helping the Judges to a split with a 3-0 win over Wesleyan University and a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Wellesley College. With the split, Brandeis will take a 3-2 record into Day 2 of the tournament.
In the opening win against Wesleyan, Hood had the second-highest hitting percentage of her career in a 25-20, 25-9, 26-24, victory. In 22 total attacks, Hood had 15 kills without an error, for a .682 hitting percentage, second only to a .720 performance (18 K, 0 E, 25 TA) against Rhode Island College in 2011. It was her third career match with a percentage higher than .600. In the loss to the Blue in the nightcap (22-25, 26-24, 17-25, 16-25), Hood recorded a season-high 20 kills, her sixth career match reaching that plateau. She made just seven errors in 37 attempts for a .351 percentage to lead the Judges.
Senior OH Si-Si Hensley (Fullerton, Calif./Troy) was Brandeis's second-best offensive weapon on the night, with eight kills in each match. She hit for a .231 percentage (8 K, 2 E, 26 TA) in the opener, but was forced into seven errors on 29 attacked (.034) in the second match.
Defensively, junior libero Elsie Bernaiche (Plantsville, Conn./Southington) had 12 digs against the Cardinals and 15 against the Blue, tying two Wellesley players for match-high honors. Senior setter Yael Einhorn (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) had 28 assists and three service aces against Wesleyan and 33 assists and 11 digs against Wellesley. It was her second double-double of the season and the 24th of her career. Junior middle blocker Carly Gutner-Davis (Del Mar, Calif./Canyon Crest Acad.) had one block solo in each match.
The Judges return to action tomorrow against Tufts at noon and Coast Guard at 4 p.m.