Spring Break
VOLLEYBALL: Squad posts perfect record at annual Judges Classic
by Jeffrey Pickette
Senior writer
Sports | 11/4/08
Posted online at 2:31 AM EST on 11/4/08
Sweeping the competition in the Judges Classic has become an unofficial tradition of sorts for the volleyball team.
The Judges continued that tradition last weekend, routing non conference opponents Baruch College, the State University of New York in Geneseo and Moravian College. Since 2003, Brandeis has a 22-0 match record when hosting the annual two-day classic.
Brandeis did not drop a set throughout the tournament, outscoring the opposition by an average set score of about 25 to 16 points. No team scored more than 19 points in any single frame last weekend.
"I thought it went over pretty well. It's hard playing easy, not really with-it teams," outside hitter Piera Carfagno '10 said. "There's not really a significant reward after each play, so it's hard to keep [focused]."
Brandeis improved its record to 17-11, including 3-4 in conference play. Outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach '09 earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors after recording a combined 30 kills and 39 digs, while middle blocker Nicole Smith '11 was named to the all-tournament team, posting a total of 23 kills and 14 blocks.
During last Saturday afternoon's match against Moravian, the Judges initially trailed 10-4 in the first set before coach Michelle Kim called a time-out to briefly speak with her players.
"I think we just went into the match kind of thinking we could walk all over this team, and that's not how we should be playing at any point," Kim said. "It wasn't really necessary to strategize … but more to get them focused and get out there and play the game we know how to play."
After the time-out, the players responded, outscoring Moravian 9-3 to tie the score at 13 before going on to take the set 25-18. Brandeis won the second and third sets 25-15 and 25-13, respectively, for the sweep.
Kim credited Moravian with effectively varying the speed and distance of its serves and said this change of pace may have led to the Judges' initial struggles.
The Judges continued that tradition last weekend, routing non conference opponents Baruch College, the State University of New York in Geneseo and Moravian College. Since 2003, Brandeis has a 22-0 match record when hosting the annual two-day classic.
Brandeis did not drop a set throughout the tournament, outscoring the opposition by an average set score of about 25 to 16 points. No team scored more than 19 points in any single frame last weekend.
"I thought it went over pretty well. It's hard playing easy, not really with-it teams," outside hitter Piera Carfagno '10 said. "There's not really a significant reward after each play, so it's hard to keep [focused]."
Brandeis improved its record to 17-11, including 3-4 in conference play. Outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach '09 earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors after recording a combined 30 kills and 39 digs, while middle blocker Nicole Smith '11 was named to the all-tournament team, posting a total of 23 kills and 14 blocks.
During last Saturday afternoon's match against Moravian, the Judges initially trailed 10-4 in the first set before coach Michelle Kim called a time-out to briefly speak with her players.
"I think we just went into the match kind of thinking we could walk all over this team, and that's not how we should be playing at any point," Kim said. "It wasn't really necessary to strategize … but more to get them focused and get out there and play the game we know how to play."
After the time-out, the players responded, outscoring Moravian 9-3 to tie the score at 13 before going on to take the set 25-18. Brandeis won the second and third sets 25-15 and 25-13, respectively, for the sweep.
Kim credited Moravian with effectively varying the speed and distance of its serves and said this change of pace may have led to the Judges' initial struggles.
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