PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The Brandeis University volleyball team closed out the 2014 season with a 3-0 loss to New York University in the University Athletic Association tournament seventh-place match. In their closest match of the tournament, the Judges fell, 25-20, 25-15, 25-22. Brandeis closes its season with a 7-24 record, while NYU improves to 20-18.

The first set was closely contested, with the Judges hanging within three points early, and eventually taking a 14-13 lead on a kill by senior Shemira Pennyman (Meriden, Conn./Francis T. Maloney). The set was tied at 17-all when the Violets closed on an 8-3 run to win, 25-20, and open up a 1-0 advantage. 

NYU never trailed in the second set, opening up an early 5-1 lead. Brandeis cut the deficit to 6-5 on back-to-back kills by Pennyman, but NYU scored nine of the next 11 points to pull away taking the 25-15 win.

In the third, Brandeis took advantage of some errant Violet attacking to open up a 6-3 lead. The advantage was still three points at 9-6 when NYU rattled off four in a row to take a 10-9 edge. The teams stayed within a point of each other, with Brandeis owning a 16-15 lead when the Violets went on a decisive run. NYU scored five in a row, with Katie Robinson bookending the run with kills that made it a 20-16 lead. A Pennyman kill stopped the bleeding, but the Judges were unable to get any closer than two points the rest of the way, falling, 25-22.

Pennyman had her best match of the season, if not her career, capping a strong three-match run at UAAs. She tied for match-high honors with a career-best 10 kills. She made just three errors in 19 total attacks for a .368 hitting percentage. Pennyman also contributed five digs and a block assist.

Junior middle blocker Maddie Engeler (Sandusky, Ohio/St Mary Central Catholic) added six kills and a .312 hitting percentage. Rookie setter Julie Kim (Fullerton, Calif./Troy) registered a double-double, her eighth of the season, with 21 kills and 12 digs, tied for match-high. Senior Elsie Bernaiche (Plantsville, Conn./Southington) added 11 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Jessica Kaufman (Tucson, Ariz./Cienaga) was involved in three of the team's five blocks.