The women’s volleyball squad heads into the 2015 season looking to improve on its 7-24 record in 2014. The Judges open their season on Sept. 1, playing away matches against Babson College and Colby-Sawyer College. They return home to host the Brandeis Invitational on Sept. 4. 

Last season, though the team started off with a 1-1 record, they quickly fell to under .500, losing their next five matches. However the team responded well to the adversity, and, following a loss against Trinity, won four of their next five matches, sporting a 5-7 overall record.

After defeating Simmons College in five sets, the team lost 13 straight matches, with seven of those losses coming against University Athletic Association conference opponents. The Judges finished the season admirably, though, winning two of their final five matches to end the season 7-24. In 31 matches last season, the Judges averaged 8.58 kills per set, 8.08 assists per set, 13.61 digs per set and 1 block per set.

One of the strengths for the Judges this season could be team chemistry. In all, the Judges return eight players from last year’s squad. Last season the Judges were led by libero Elsie Bernaiche ’15, who tallied 504 digs and 43 assists, as well as outside hitter Liz Hood ’15, who notched 115.5 points. While both Bernaiche and Hood have since graduated, outside hitter Jessie Moore ’18, who tallied 193 kills and 231 points, and middle blocker Summer Koop ’16, who collected 112 kills and 128 points, both return to lead the team. Setter Julie Kim ’18, middle blocker Jessica Kaufman ’17 and setter Maddie Engeler ’16 also return this season. Kim collected 654 assists—the most assists on the team by a large margin. The next highest contributor in that category had just 105. Engeler, meanwhile, had a team-high 248.5 points last season, averaging 2.3 points per set.

Though Brandeis only won seven matches last season, five of their victories came at home. That trend could bode well for the Judges this season, as six of their first nine matches will be played at Brandeis. 

The first true test for the Judges will be at the Brandeis Invitational, set to take place Sept. 4 to Sept. 5, and will feature matches against Johnson and Wales University, Wellesley College, Endicott College and University of Southern Maine. Last year, the Judges went winless at the tournament, but if the squad can manage to take at least one victory from the tournament this year, it could set the tone for a more successful season in the win column. 

The next test for Brandeis will be at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Invitational from Sept. 11 to Sept. 12. There, the Judges will play home matches against Cabrini College and Colby College and away matches against Edgemont and Springfield College. If the Judges can win at least half of their 14 September non-conference matches, they will be in great shape heading into October.

One area that the team will be looking to improve on is their conference play. Brandeis went 0-7 last year against UAA teams. The Judges will have seven conference matches in October, the first coming Oct. 3 against Carnegie Mellon University. This stretch of conference matches will be crucial for the Judges as they look to improve upon last year’s October performances. It was during this stretch last season that the Judges began to fall. 

The season starts off Sept. 1 against Babson College.