In four games against University Athletic Association opponents New York University, Emory University, University of Chicago and Carnegie Mellon University, the volleyball team captured only one set, finishing 0-4 in the NYU round-robin tournament last weekend. The losses put the Judges at 1-7 in UAA play for the season, dropping them to seventh place in the conference.

Coach Michelle Kim thought that despite their losses, the team showed great effort.

"It was a frustrating weekend for us," Kim said. "Our players worked hard, but we couldn't put the ball away. As far as the effort and everything like that, I thought the effort was given, but we couldn't execute and therefore couldn't win the game."

In their last game of the round-robin last Sunday, NYU swept the Judges 25-18, 25-19, 25-22. Outside hitter Paige Blasco '11 led the team with 16 digs, while middle blocker Becca Fischer '13 tied her career best with five block assists.

"[Fischer] has made improvements," Kim said. "She is a first-year, so she is learning a lot as the season goes on. She is playing a lot as a freshman, so she is kind of learning as she goes. She asks a lot of questions to do what she needs to do to improve, and she works on it. She is someone who hopefully keeps on improving."

Earlier in the day, the Judges faced the third-ranked and defending national champion Emory University Eagles. The Judges were swept again by a score of 25-14, 25-17, 25-18.

Kim recognized the difficulties in facing a team as talented as Emory.

"They have talented athletes and execute very well," Kim stated. "They have players who can put the ball away. They frustrate our team because their defense is very good, they block very well, they get a lot of digs, and they convert their digs into kills."



Despite the lack of offense in the match, outside hitter/middle blocker Bridget McAllister '10 had a team-leading 12 digs. Her three-block assists let her tie for the team lead with middle blocker Nicole Smith '11.

In their second game on Saturday, the Judges were defeated by the University of Chicago in four sets by a score of 25-17, 24-26, 25-20, 26-24. It was the only match in which the Judges won a set.

Blasco registered a team-leading 13 kills while the defense recorded 14 blocks, with Smith leading the way with three solo blocks and four assists.

In their first match of the round robin last Saturday, the Judges fell to Carnegie Mellon 3-0 by a score of 27-25, 25-23, 25-18. Despite the loss, Blasco registered a double-double with a team-leading 18 kills and 14 digs.

Abby Blasco '11 also recorded a double-double with 27 assists and 14 digs against the Tartans.

Overall, the Judges were very unpleased with their play.

"Honestly, I don't even want to think about this past weekend," Smith said. "It was just a rough weekend."

Kim still wants her team to stay positive and work hard in practice in order to achieve future success.

"We need to learn from our past experiences this past weekend playing against high-level teams and learn to keep chipping away and keep working hard," Kim said. "If we focus on the little things and the techniques we work on in practice, and kind of focusing on the little things, I think we can come back and play into our form."

The team continues its season Friday, where they will participate in the Hall of Fame Tournament at Smith College.

The Judges own the fifth seed in the tournament and will open against fourth-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology.