Blue Drop Home Match 3-0 to Brandeis University

WELLESLEY, Mass. --  Outside hitter Nicole Doerges (San Marino, Calif) recorded a match-high 17 kills to go along with eight digs in a 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-22) home loss to Brandeis University on Thursday night inside Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse.

Overall the Blue now stand at 8-11 and remain 3-6 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play with one game remaining. Brandeis improves to 7-17 overall and remains at 1-6 in the UAA conference.

Sophomore Kate Salembier (Sierra Madre, Calif.) had six kills, her most Oct. 9 in a win over Suffolk. Claire Bialek (Brookline, Mass.) once again led the Blue with 14 digs and added two service aces. First year Mia Maxwell (Arlington, Mass.) posted five kills and a solo block, while setter Izzy Seebold (Concord, N.C.) recorded 27 assists for the second straight match.

On the side of the Judges, Lara Verstovek (Bellaire, Texas) set the tone with 12 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Ella Pereira (Redondo Beach, Calif.) also posted a double-double with a match-high 18 digs and 10 kills. The third Brandeis member with double digit kills was Amelia Oppenheimer (The Woodlands, Texas) with 11.

Set one began extremely close, with a kill by Maxwell giving the Blue a slight edge at 8-7. The Judges would then answer with a 5-0 run capped off on a kill by Verstovsek. Trailing 23-18 late in the set, Wellesley sparked a 5-0 run of its own to tie it. However, a kill by Oppenheimer and an attack error gave Brandeis a 26-24 win in the first set. With the second set beginning close once again, a Doerges kill cut the Brandeis lead to 7-6. The Judges would take control in the middle of the set and eventually controlled a 19-11 lead. Wellesley tried to fight back but three different Judges recorded a kill to end the set by a score of 25-15.

Down two sets to none, the Blue found itself in some trouble down 11-6 after a 6-1 run by Brandeis. Wellesley quickly found some pep and responded with a 6-1 run of its own to tie the match at 12 a piece. The two schools would battle back and forth until there was an eventual tie a 22-22. Brandeis junior Amelia Oppenheimer would take over the game with a kill and two service aces to win the third set 25-22 and cap off a 3-0 overall win.

The Blue will finish up the season this Saturday in a must win match at WPI starting at 2:00 PM. Brandeis will conclude its season against NEWMAC opponent Springfield on Saturday, October 30 at noon.