WALTHAM, Mass. -- First-year outside hitter Lara Verstovsek (Bellaire, Texas / Episcopal) had 15 kills and senior libero Kaitlyn Oh (Santa Clara, Calif. / Cupertino) led the match with 21 digs as the Judges defeated Springfield College 3-1 (25-22, 17-25, 25-15, 26-24) on Senior Day today in Auerbach Arena. 

Springfield opened the first set, leading 7-4. The Judges won the next four points, which included an ace from junior Emily Morrison (Richardson, Texas / Richardson). After Springfield won the following four points, Brandeis won eight of the next nine points to lead 16-12. Springfield clawed their back in the set and had a 22-21 lead. A service error tied things up at 22-22. Kills from Verstovsek and senior Kaisa Newberg (Reno, Nev./Sage Ridge School) gave the Judges a 24-22 lead. The Judges took the first set on an attack error by Springfield.

The second set belonged to Springfield. Tied at 6-6, the Pride went on a 12-4 run to lead 18-10. The Judges stormed back winning the next five points, but never got within three points. The Pride took the set 25-17. As a team, Springfield had 16 kills in the set, including seven from Camryn Bancroft. 

The Judges responded by dominating the third set. Leading wire-to-wire, Brandeis had 13 kills in the set. A kill by Verstovsek gave the Judges a 10-5 lead. The closest the Pride got to the Judges the rest of the set was three points at 12-9. The Judges took the set 25-15. Junior outside hitter Amelia Oppenheimer (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands) had five of her 14 kills in the set.

Springfield raced out to a 9-4 lead in the fourth set. An ace by Verstovsek cut the lead to 10-8, but the Pride used a 9-4 run to extend their lead to 19-12. The Judges fought their way back, winning five of the next six points, cutting Springfield's lead to 19-16. A kill by Ashley Tanner gave Springfield a 24-20 lead. The Judges fought off four set points, and won the set and the match on an ace from sophomore Ella Pereira (Redondo Beach, Calif./Rolling Hills Prep). 

For the match, Brandeis had 45 digs. The Judges executed the block extremely well, with nine total blocks, their most since October 9 against Endicott. In addition to her 15 kills, Verstovsek had four aces, 15 digs, and four block assists. Sophomore Ines Grom-Mansencal (Cincinnati, Ohio / Wyoming) added 39 assists and 15 digs. 

The Judges honored their six seniors, Avery Donovan (Portland, Maine / Deering), Belle Scott (Portland, Ore. / Oregon Episcopal School), Emerson White (Lexington, Ky. / Sayre), Kaitlyn Oh, Kaisa Newberg, and Stephanie Borr (Westfield, N.J. / Westfield), prior to the match. 

The Judges will travel to Case Western University next week where they will compete in the UAA Championship. The Judges will face off against Emory on Friday, Nov. 5.

-- by Jesse Lieberman '23