WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University volleyball team had two players reach double digits in kills tonight, with graduate student Sydney Bent (Raleigh, N.C./Ransom Everglades (Fla.) picking up a double-double as the Judges defeated visiting Johnson and Wales University, 3-0. Set scores were 25-21, 25-19, 25-20.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis, 10-12.
• Johnson and Wales, 13-9.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set was the most competitive, featuring seven ties and three lead changes. JWU scored the first four points of the match, but Brandeis rallied and eventually went ahead 15-9, the largest lead of the set.
• The Wildcats answered by scoring 11 of the next 14 points, going ahead, 20-18, on a Sibel Truong service ace.
• Brandeis had a strong finish to the set, ending on a 7-1 run to take it, 25-21, when junior Gracie Lerian (Manhasset, N.Y. / Manhasset Secondary School) delivered a service ace.
• Brandeis raced out to an 8-2 lead in the second set, but JWU rallied to tie things up at 14-all. The Judges finished on an 11-5 run to take it 25-19, on a block by junior Rita Lai (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements) and sophomore Lara Verstovsek (Houston, Texas/Episcopal).
• The third set featured five ties and three lead changes in the early going, but a 6-0 streak on the serve of junior Ella Pereira (Redondo Beach, Calif. / Rolling Hills Prep) made it 11-6 in favor of the home team and Brandeis never looked back en route to the 25-20 win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Verstovsek led the Judges with a match-high 16 kills, making six errors in 37 attempts for a .270 hitting percentage. She also had two service aces and two block assists.
• Bent had a terrific all-around match, finishing with 14 kills and 19 digs for her fourth double-double in the last five matches. Bent made just one error in her 22 attempts for a fantastic .591 hitting percentage.
• Junior Ines Grom-Mansencal (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming) had 38 assists and eight digs. She helped Brandeis hit .313 as a team (42 kills, 11 errors, 99 attacks).
• The win for Brandeis snapped a seven-match losing streak.

UP NEXT

• Brandeis is off until next week when they take on Tufts on the road next Wednesday followed by a senior day match with Wellesley next Thursday at 6 p.m.