MEDFORD, Mass. (taken from a Tufts Univ. press release) -- The Brandeis University volleyball team got off to a fine start, but the Judges couldn't sustain the momentum, falling to host Tufts University, 3-1, on the Cousens gymnasium floor Tuesday night. Brandeis won the opening game, 30-28, but Tufts responded with 30-16, 30-27 and 30-28 wins to take the match.

Tufts improved to 15-5 with the win and remained perfect (9-0) on their home court. Brandeis dropped to 8-10 with its second straight loss. Three of the four games were very tightly contested.

Junior libero Shannon Trees (Savannah, Ga.) had a remarkable 39 digs in four games to lead a very competitive effort by the Judges. Freshman middle blocker Piera Carfagno (Los Angeles, Calif.) finished with 15 kills and three block assists. Also in double-digits offensively were sophomore outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach (Buffalo, N.Y.) with 13 kills and freshman middle Bridget McAllister (Santa Clara, Calif.) with 12. Junior opposite Ashley Powers (Waltham, Mass.) led Brandeis with four blocks.

Junior Katie Wysham (Spokane, Wash.) led three Jumbos in double-figures for kills with 18, making only three errors in 35 attempts for a .429 percentage. Sophomore Kaitlin O'Reilly (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) topped her average of nearly 11 assists per game with 56 for the match while adding two aces in her service game. On defense, Tufts got 22 digs and four blocks from senior co-captain Kelli Harrison (Blue Jay, Calif.) and Wysham was part of six blocks. Sophomore Maya Ripecky (Chicago, Ill.) had 25 digs to lead the Jumbos.

Tufts hosts NESCAC action this weekend and faces Bates College on Friday night. Brandeis is headed for University Athletic Association play in Chicago over the weekend.