Liz Hood '15 (photo by Sportspix.biz/Mike Broglio)
BRANDEIS VOLLEYBALL FALLS SHORT IN LOSSES TO TUFTS, COAST GUARD
WALTHAM, Mass. — On Sunday, Brandeis volleyball faltered during Day Two of the 2013 Brandeis Volleyball Invitational, falling at the hands of Tufts University and the Coast Guard Academy. Juniors outside hitter Liz Hood (Albuquerque, N.M./ Albuquerque Acad.)and middle blocker Carly Gutner-Davis (Del Mar, Calif./ Canyon Crest Acad.) each recorded more than 20 kills on the afternoon but the Judges (3-4) came up a little short in a five-set loss to the Jumbos (3-1) before the Bears (5-2) swept them in the invitational's finale. At the conclusion of the invitational, Hood was named to the All-Tournament Team.
In the first match of the day against Tufts, the two squads were locked in a see-saw battle. After some sloppy play by both sides, the Jumbos pulled away in the first set to take it 25-18. The Judges rebounded immediately in the second with a 25-22 win but fell in a tight third set, 25-20. The final two sets were thrilling with many long rallies and clutch plays as Brandeis won the fourth set 25-23 to force a final, deciding set to 15. Unfortunately, the Judges could not complete the comeback and fell 17-15 in the set and 3-2 for the match.
Brandeis was led on offense by Hood who recorded a double-double as she tied for the match-high in kills with 18 and added 11 digs. Gutner-Davis and senior outside hitter
Si-Si Hensley (Fullerton, Calif./ Troy) joined Hood in double-digit kills with 12 apiece. Junior libero
Elsie Bernaiche (Plantsville, Conn./ Southington) led the squad with 25 digs while senior setter
Yael Einhorn (Cherry Hill, N.J./ Cherry Hill East) recorded 48 assists.
Tufts was led by junior middle blocker Isabel Kuhel (Brisbane, Calif./ San Francisco Waldorf) who had 18 kills and a match-high 59.3 attacking percentage. Junior outside hitter Haley Hopper (Carlsbad, Calif. La Costa Canyon) and senior libero Virginia Clay (Santa Clara, Calif./ Crystal Springs Uplands) tied for the team lead with 18 digs. Sophomore setter Kyra Baum (Boca Raton, Fla./ Pine Crest School) anchored the attack with 52 assists.
In the final match of the tournament for the Judges, they took on the Coast Guard Academy Bears. The Bears entered the match a perfect 3-0 at the invitational and continued their hot play. Brandeis struggled to get any offense going as they fell in straight sets, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16.
The Judges were led by Gutner-Davis who smashed home nine kills while Bernaiche led the squad with 14 digs.
The Bears were led by senior middle blocker Kelsey DePorto (Frankfort, Ill.) with 16 kills. Senior libero Samantha Marmolejo (El Paso, Texas) had a team-high 13 digs.
Brandeis continues their season on Friday September 13th at the MIT Invitational against Regis (Mass.).
