WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University volleyball team used a balanced attack on both offense and defense to win their fourth-straight match, 3-0, over Clark University. Set scores were 25-18, 25-21, 25-14.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis, 9-5.
• Clark, 9-6.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Judges led wire-to-wire in both the first and third sets, scoring seven of the first eight points in each.
• In the second set, there were five ties, but Brandeis never trailed after going up, 2-1. The final tie of the set came at 6-all after back-to-back kills by the Cougars' Sheyenne Williams and Claudia Rivera. Brandeis rookie Anna Ertischek (Mongtomery, Texas/Lake Creek) answered with a kill and the Judges never trailed again.
• Brandeis established a five-point lead at 19-14 on a block by grad student Sydney Bent (Raleigh, N.C. / Ransom Everglades School (Fla.) and junior Rita Lai (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements) and never looked back.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Judges had a balanced offensive attack, with three players scoring between 10.5 and 12 points, and another three tallying between 6.5 and 8.5 points.
• They were also balanced on defense, with two players recording 15 digs and another with 14.
• Lai was the team's top scorer on the night with 12 points, finishing with seven kills and eight blocks (two solo).
• Sophomore Lara Verstovsek (Houston, Texas/Episcopal) had a team-high eight kills, while adding two service aces and two block assists for 11 points.
• Bent was the third player in double digits with points, racking up five kills, four service aces and three block assists for 10.5 points. She also notched 14 digs.
• Junior setter Ines Grom-Mansencal (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming) had a terrific all-around game, with 27 assists and 15 digs for her eighth double-double of the season, while also contributing two kills and four service aces.
• Senior Stephanie Borr (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) also had 15 digs on the night.
• The Judges' 14 service aces were a season-high for the Judges.
• In addition to finishing with 10 team blocks, the Brandeis defense held Clark to a .009 hitting percentage (22 K-21 E-113 TA).

UP NEXT

• Brandeis heads to Pittsburgh, Pa., on Sunday for the second University Athletic Association Round Robin of the season. They will meet Case Western Reserve University and the University of Chicago.
• Clark takes on Babson and Gordon on Saturday afternoon at Babson.