Maybe all they needed was home court advantage. Coming off two weekends that produced a losing record, the Brandeis women's volleyball team hosted the Judges Classic tournament on their home court this past weekend. The tournament marked the first time the Judges have played at home in over a month. The Judges used the advantage to go undefeated, pulling off a 4-0 record in front of familiar faces at Red Auerbach Arena. The team ended its undefeated weekend in a match against Eastern Connecticut State University, sweeping their opponents for their second straight sweep of the day. Brandeis was clearly the better team in the match winning 30-24, 30-10 and 30-22. Shannon Eagan '05 led the team defensively with 12 digs, while Becca Segal '05 and Jen Lobban '05 paced the offense with nine kills each.

"We played well," Coach Michelle Kim said. "Eastern Connecticut is a good team, so that was a good win for us."

Earlier in the day, the Judges took on Newbury College. The Judges dominated the Nighthawks in three games, winning 30-12, 30-24 and 30-27. Jenna Polinsky '06 paced the squad with seven kills and Eagan contributed 14 assists, six aces and led the team with six digs.

"We were a bit slow but we came through," Kim said. "It was nice because everyone got a chance to play. I think in the end we knew were going to win and it just needed to happen."

The Judges faced their toughest competition on their first day of play when they battled regionally ranked Plymouth State University. The two teams fought through the only four match competition the Judges faced all weekend, but the home team prevailed. The Judges took the first game in a decisive 26-30 match but faltered in the second, losing 30-23. The Judges fought back in the third and fourth games to beat the No. 13 Panthers 30-27 and 30-18. Eagan contributed an astonishing 54 assists as the Judges won their second straight match.

"It was a pretty evenly matched game up to the third and fourth games," Kim said. "We just came out real strong and just took them, we played great, and it was definitely a nice win."

"We started controlling them early and kept it going with momentum," Lobban said. "We kept it on our side a lot."

The Judges took on Gordon College in their first match at home after more than a month of traveling. Although it took Brandeis four games to beat the Fighting Scots, the Judges clearly dominated each of the three games they won with the closest contest a twelve point game. The Judges opened up with a commanding 30-11 romp over the Fighting Scots followed by a 30-17 rout, but the excitement of back-to-back blowout wins was broken by a close 30-27 loss in the third game. The Judges came back fighting as they easily finished off the Scots 30-18 in the fourth and final contest. Eagan dominated with 38 assists, 11 digs and four aces.

"We communicated really well," Lobban said. "We were able to run faster plays, get more kills and we knew that if we were in the right place it would be a kill. We were just able to capitalize on that."

Kim felt the match was particularly good for the Judges because it was a full team effort.

"I was able to give a lot of people some playing time which was nice," Kim said. "Everyone got to play a good amount of volleyball."

Overall it was a great weekend for the Judges and excellent preparation for the tough UAA Championships looming, but it seems that the Judges were just happy to finally be home.

"It's always more comfortable here, this is where we practice everyday," Lobban said. "I think mentally we just get more excited when we play here."

The four wins improve the Judges' record to 14-15 as they look to next weekend's UAA Championships at Emory University in Atlanta. Although the team went undefeated this weekend they are much more concerned for what is to come.

"Overall the competition [at the Judges Classic] was a little weaker than what we've seen in the UAA," Lobban said.

The Judges recognize that the upcoming games will be the toughest competition all year. With a 0-7 record in UAA conference play, the team hopes to step up the intensity for their trip down south.

"We just need to stay in the game the whole time, we can't get down," Lobban said. "These are good teams."

The Judges first undefeated weekend all season is certainly a great confidence booster for what is to come. Kim and the Judges know that the road ahead will be hard but they are ready to fight, they are ready to play and they are ready to win.

"I think going into UAA's it's definitely going to be tougher," Kim said. "Winning four in a row and four at home, it's great. But this weekend is going to be tougher.