SALEM, Massachusetts (some content taken from Salem sports information) — The Brandeis University volleyball team won its final two regular season matches on Saturday, moving to a 15-11 record and clinching a winning regular season for the first time since 2012. The Judges swept both matches, beating the Bridgewater State Bears in the early match and the Salem State Vikings in three close sets later in the day. At the end of the tri-match, the Bears moved to 7-21 and the Vikings to 11-15.
AGAINST BRIDGEWATER STATE (25-11, 25-16, 25-19)
HOW IT HAPPENED (from Salem sports information)
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The Judges built a 14-5 lead in first set following a kill by junior Kirsten Frauens (Webster, N.Y / Webster Schroeder). Three straight service aces by junior Marlee Nork (Chicago, III. / Walter Payton College Prep) helped Brandeis extend its margin to 18-6. Leading 23-11, junior Shea Decker–Jacoby (Los Angeles, Calif. / Marymount) recorded back to back kills to give the Judges a 25-11 win.
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Poor hitting by Bridgewater State and three kills by sophomore Emma Bartlett (Duxbury, Mass. / Duxbury) helped Brandeis to an early 11-2 advantage in set two. The Bears managed to pull ahead following six straight errors by Brandeis, but behind the strong play of freshman Belle Scott (Portland, Ore. / Oregon Episcopal School), who had three kills, the Judges regained control to pull ahead 15-12 before cruising to a 25-16 win.
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Bridgewater State led 8-3 in set three before Brandeis pulled even at 10-all following an attacking error. Three attack errors helped the Bears build a 14-11 lead, but two kills by freshman Clare Meyers (Richfield, Wisc. / Slinger) and one by Decker-Jacoby put the Judges on top 17-16 during a 6-2 run. The Judges gained breathing room with a 23-18 lead behind back-to-back kills from junior Zara Platt (Fountain Valley, Calif. / Fountain Valley) and finished off the set on a service ace by freshman Megan Osorio Moran (Hollywood, Fla. / St. Thomas Aquinas), as the Judges won 25-19.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
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Bartlett had a match-high 11 kills on 18 attempts, hitting a robust .333. Meyers and Decker-Jacoby also chipped in on the attack, with seven kills apiece.
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Junior Leah Pearlman (El Paso, Texas / El Paso) handled most of the setting, amassing a match-high 15 assists.
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Junior Yvette Cho (San Diego, Calif. / Rancho Bernardo) had a match-high 10 digs. Meyers and Decker-Jacoby also contributed in this category, compiling eight and six digs, respectively.
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Nork tied her season-high for service aces with four; Meyers had three aces.
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The Judges hit .165 for the match (38K-23E-91TA)
AGAINST SALEM STATE (25-23, 26-24, 25-22)
HOW IT HAPPENED (from Salem sports information)
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The Judges and Vikings played a tightly-contested first set. A kill by Decker-Jacoby put Brandeis up 9-7. Salem State responded with an 11-1 run as multiple errors gave the Vikings an 18-10 lead. However, four straight kills by Meyers pulled the Judges to within 19-16. With the game tied 20-all, Brandeis closed the set with a 5-2 run as Decker-Jacoby finished the set with a kill.
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The Judges hit .333 with 14 kills on 30 total attempts to edge the Vikings 26-24 in set two. A kill and ace by Decker-Jacoby gave Brandeis an 11-6 advantage, but Salem State stayed in the match and battled back from a 21-17 deficit as kills by Morgan Adam and Maddi O'Connor and two aces by Samantha Chiasson gave Salem State a 22-21 lead. However, once again Decker-Jacoby and Meyers recorded kills to propel the Judges to a 26-24 victory.
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Again, the third set was well-contested by Salem State, which led 12-11 after a kill by Emily Russo. The Judges took advantage of poor play by the Vikings to build a 19-16 lead. Back-to-back kills by Jasmine Severino brought Salem State to within 21-20, but kills by Meyers and freshman Marissa Borgert (Blaine, Minn. / Spring Lake Park) and two errors by the Vikings gave the Judges a 25-22 win.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
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Decker-Jacoby had a match-high 16 kills. Meyers also hit double-digit kills, for the first time since the season opener against Wellesley.
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Nork handled the setting for the Judges, amassing 15 assists. Borgert also chipped in with 11 assists.
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Junior Grace Krumpack (Cincinnati, Ohio / Colerain) led the Judges in digs with a match-high 20
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The Judges hit .243 for the match (46K-19E-111TA).
UP NEXT
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Brandeis heads to Atlanta for the UAA Tournament, on Friday, November 3, and Saturday, November 4. The Judges will play Carnegie Mellon in their first match and either Emory or Case Western in its second.
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Bridgewater State travels to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for the MASCAC Quarterfinals on Wednesday, November 1, at 7 PM.
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Salem State also starts the MASCAC Tournament on Wednesday, playing at Westfield State at 7PM.
--Corey Cohen