WALTHAM, MA- The Williams College volleyball team (3-3) split the first two matches at the Brandeis Invitational Friday night. The Ephs won 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-19) in their tournament opener but later fell to host Brandeis 3-1 (25-19, 26-28, 25-18, 25-22) on the main court.
"Against Brandeis, we played a tough opponent who ran their offense at a tempo that kept us in trouble all night," said head coach Fran Vandermeer.
In the first match against Smith, the Ephs were led by sophomores Nicole Ballon-Landa (9 kills, 1 ace, 1 block), Eleanor Levine (8 kills, 6 digs), and Emily Avis (28 assists, 10 digs).
The final match of Day 1 featured four close sets, including the second, which saw the Ephs battle back from set point three times to clinch their only win of the match. In the final set, the Ephs were able to battle back from a nine-point deficit to close within 23-22, but could not get any closer.
Rounding out the numbers for the Ephs in this match were juniors Chelsea Kubal (13 digs, 10 kills, 2 blocks) and Melissa Pun (17 digs), and sophomores Emily Avis (36 assists, 11 digs) and Nicole Ballon-Landa (9 kills, 3 blocks).
The Ephs continue the Brandeis Invitational tomorrow with a 12PM match against Babson, and a 2PM non-conference match against NESCAC rival Tufts.
