The Brandeis women's volleyball team (26-14 overall, 3-9 UAA) completed its regular season this weekend at the UAA Championships in New York City. At the previous two UAA Round Robins the Judges won a combined two matches against the University of Chicago and Case Western Reserve University, while losing five matches. This weekend, the Judges faired similarly to the last two tournaments in terms or wins and losses, defeating the University of Rochester 3-2, while losing 3-1 to Emory University, 3-1 to New York University and losing 3-0 to Case Western twice. But in this tournament, the Judges played at a much higher level than in the previous two. They faced many of the top teams in the country, and played well enough against those strong teams to earn a very respectable sixth-place finish.

Friday was a difficult day for Brandeis as they lost to Emory 30-22, 30-21, 28-30, 30-23. Following that match, the Judges faced NYU who dealt them a 27-30, 30-21, 30-21, 30-21 defeat. Finally, Brandeis lost to Case Western 30-27, 30-18, 30-26.

"I think the team played up to the level of Emory and NYU in the tournament unlike the last UAAs," Jen Lobban '05 said. We went onto the court knowing we had nothing to lose and wanted to give the strong teams some good competition. We took games from them, so we definitely saw the rewards of playing so well," she said.

On Saturday, the Judges were forced to regroup or face elimination. In the consolation semifinals, they did just that, defeating Rochester 31-29, 29-31, 18-30, 30-27, 15-10. This was an important victory for the Judges because it not only kept them in the tournament, but avenged a previous five-game loss.

"Winning against Rochester was great, because they had beaten us earlier in the season and because we played a good game both offensively and defensively," Co-Captain Isabel de Koninck '04 said.

In the consolation finals, the Judges again faced Case Western who beat them for the second time in the tournament, 30-28, 30-17, 30-19. That gave the Judges a sixth-place finish.

"As a whole I think we looked like a very strong team in this UAA tournament," Lobban said.

The Judges had one of the best seasons in school history, which earned them a trip to the East Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. Brandeis earned the second seed, behind MIT who defeated the Judges earlier in the season. If the Judges win just one more game, they will tie the school record for victories in a season. Fittingly, that record was set in 1988 when Coach Sheryl Sousa was a sophomore at Brandeis. This is also the team's first postseason birth since 2001.

The Judges should have no problem challenging the record, as they will be facing many two teams they defeated earlier in the season. Brandeis beat Emmanuel College 3-1 on Sept 30 and pummeled Plymouth State University 3-0 on Oct. 31. The only other team which the Judges faced this season is MIT who felled Brandeis 3-0 on Oct. 9.

Regardless of the outcome of the ECAC tournament, the Judges had a very successful season. There was, however, a bit of disappointment.

"The team this year has been amazing, but at times inconsistent," Co-captain Marni Kutok '04 said. "We can have one of our best games followed by one of our worst. If we had been more consistent, the team would have been more successful than we already are," she said.

What-ifs aside, the season has been one to remember.

"I have never played on a team that has so many players who are so dedicated. Every person on the court wants to be there, works their hardest, and strives for improvement. There are no superstars on this team, we work together as a team and play extremely well," Lobban said.

Others expressed similar sentiments.

"I think this whole season was great. We played together and had fun, and in the process won a whole lot of volleyball games," de Koninck said. "It was a season the whole team can be proud of, and looking to next weekend, we want to take that feeling into the ECACs and try to use it to energize ourselves to compete at the highest level possible," she said.

The Judges begin tournament play on Saturday at MIT at 12:30 pm.