After nearly blowing a 19-11 lead in the first set of last Thursday's game against Endicott College, the volleyball team found itself trailing 20-15 in the second set and in danger of letting Endicott back into the match. Yet a 10-3 Brandeis run sparked a 25-23 second-set comeback win, and the Judges finished off Endicott 25-19 in the third set for its fifth sweep of the season. With the victory, the Judges improved their record to 8-1 and increased their winning streak to five games.

Falling behind early in key sets before staging a comeback is nothing new for the Judges this season. They lost the first eight points in the first set against Trinity College Sept. 13 before rallying to win the set and the match and also rallied from a 9-4 deficit to win the fifth and decisive set against New England powerhouse Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sept. 6.

While wary of her team's slow starts, coach Michelle Kim was pleased with the squad's ability to battle when behind.

"It's good to know that we can come back and fight until the very end, and we've been fortunate to come back in close games," she said.

The Judges jumped out to an early 19-11 first-set lead, but it quickly shriveled to 19-16 before Kim called a timeout to stop the bleeding. The timeout did exactly that, as the Gulls never got closer than three points and the Judges closed out the set 25-19.

"[The timeout] was more of just a way to stop their momentum and take the ball over and make the run ourselves," Kim said.

In the second set, Brandeis fell behind 15-20 before its outside hitters helped spark the comeback. Outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach '09 began the rally with a kill, and outside hitter Paige Blasco '11, a University Athletic Association player of the week last week, added three of her game-high eight kills during the run. Right-side hitter Piera Carfagno's '10 ace with the Judges leading 24-23 closed out the set.

In the third set, the Judges built an early lead before completing the sweep. After the Gulls tied the score at five, Brandeis went on a 9-1 tear to jump ahead 14-6 en route to a 25-19 third-set victory.

Middle blocker Bridget McAllister '10 joked that the Judges play close sets at home for dramatic effect.

"We've got to make it exciting. Coach Kim is always like, 'Why do you have to do this to me?'" McAllister said, before adding seriously, "It's better to play games close because it gets you ready for pressure situations, and the pressure never breaks you."

Wingenbach tallied 10 kills and a team-leading 13 digs in the match, while Paige Blasco had a team-leading 14 kills and 10 digs. Carfagno notched a team-high .227 hitting percentage and had eight kills against only three errors.

Kim said that Endicott provided the Judges' outside hitters, particularly Paige Blasco, the chance to face strong blockers up front.

"Paige [Blasco] faced a good blocker twice out of the three rotations, which is good practice [for her] to know that against some of the bigger blockers she needs to change her shots up," Kim said. "We are going to be facing some good blocks as we go into conference play in the next two weeks."

McAllister also praised Carfagno's strength against opposing blockers.

"[Carfagno] is fabulous; she's a strong right-side player who really makes the [opponents'] blockers stay home," McAllister said. "That's probably the best thing about our team-each player is really strong and [the opposing blocker] has to commit to us, which usually means a one on one opportunity for [our hitters]."

The Judges travel to face Tufts University today at 7 p.m. before heading to Amherst College next Friday and Saturday at noon for the Amherst Invitational.