CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Brandeis University volleyball team suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the University of Rochester today in the seventh-place match at the 2021 University Athletic Association tournament. Set scores were 25-17, 26-24, 23-25, 25-22. With the loss, the Judges' season comes to a close with an 8-20 record, while the Yellowjackets end up at 7-19.
In the first set, Rochester was clinging to an 8-7 lead when the Yellowjackets went on a 7-0 run to make it 15-7. They were able to maintain a healthy margin en route to a 25-17 win. Brandeis battled in the second set, cutting a 14-8 deficit to one at 15-14. The Judges couldn't quite get over the hump, despite holding off three set points, ultimately lost the second, 26-24.
In the third set, it was Brandeis's turn to take a lead and hang on. The Judges were ahead, 10-4, early on, and they maintained the advantage at 14-8. The Yellowjackets clawed back into the set with a 4-0 run to get within two points, and eventually took an 18-17 lead on a Brandeis attack error. UR was still ahead at 22-21, but Brandeis rallied to score four of the last five points, with kills by rookie Lara Verstovsek (Bellaire, Texas/Episcopal) and senior Belle Scott (Portland, Ore./Portland Episcopal School) closing it out.
The fourth set was one of runs. Rochester took an early 9-6 lead, but Brandeis scored four in a row to go ahead, 10-9. UR answered with three of the next four points for a brief 12-11 margin, but the Judges responded again with five points in a row, including a pair of service aces from senior Kaitlyn Oh (Santa Clara, Cal./Cupertino) that established a 16-12 lead. The Judges were still ahead at 22-19 when the Yellowjackets put on a final push, closing out the match on a 6-1 run to win it, 25-23.
For the match, the Judges were led by Verstovsek, who finished with 10 kills, her 15th match in double digits in kills this season. She just missed a double-double with nine digs. Senior Kaisa Newberg (Reno, Nev./Sage Ridge School) added nine kills, while sophomore Rita Lai (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements) posted a career-high seven kills to go with three blocks. Defensively, Oh led the team with a match-high 25 digs, giving her 986 for her career, good for 16th place on the Judges' career list. Sophomore Ines Grom-Mansenecal (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming) added a double-double performance – her 13th of the season – with 32 assists and 15 digs.
The Judges will return three of their top five scoring performers next season in Verstovsek, Lai and junior Amelia Oppenheimer (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands), plus setter Grom-Senecal and defensive specialist sophomore Ella Pereira (Redondo Beach, Calif./Rolling Hills Prep).