WALTHAM, Mass. -- Junior outside hitter Rachael Suchy (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) tallied 35 kills in two contests as the Case Western Reserve University volleyball team split its Saturday matches, beating Brandeis University 3-1 and dropping a five-setter to the University of Chicago at day one of the University Athletic Association Round Robin #2 in Shapiro Gymnasium.

After the split, Case moved to 17-7 overall and 2-3 in the UAA. Brandeis dropped to 13-9 (1-4 UAA) after the day's matches, while Chicago improved to 21-6 (3-2 UAA).

Case won its morning matchup with Brandeis, taking the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-21, before dropping the third, 25-22, and rebounding to win the fourth by a score of 25-19.

Suchy put together a team-high 16 kill performance, while senior outside hitter Beth Karpinski (Avon Lake, OH/Avon Lake) added 13 kills and tied for a team-high with 14 digs. It was the sixth double-double effort of the season for Karpinski. Sophomore setter Breana Freeman (Geneva, OH/Geneva) paced the offense with 36 assists, while sophomore libero Rachel Gulasey (Cleveland, OH/Magnificat) and senior defensive specialist Maggie Nofel (Strongsville, OH/Strongsville) also had 14 digs to help fortify the Spartan defense.

In match two the Spartans got off to a great start, taking the first two sets from Chicago by scores of 25-23 and 25-13 – Case hit .406 in a very efficient second set. The Maroons woke up in the third and fourth frames, however, tying the match at 2-2 with consecutive wins. The fifth set was decided by a score of 15-11 as the Spartans moved to 3-3 in five set matches this season.

Suchy led the team in kills again in the afternoon matchup, posting 19 kills on .455 hitting percentage. She was supported on the front line by junior middle hitter Tricia McCutchan (Hamilton, OH/Stephen T. Badin), who recorded 18 kills and four of the team's five solo blocks. Freeman connected on 45 assists and had a team-high 16 digs in the second match, while three other Spartans reached double figures. Sophomore defensive specialist Kara Monnin (Minster, OH/Minster), Karpinski and Gulasey each had 15 digs against the Maroons.  

After two tough matches, Case will have to recover quickly because the team will be right back at it tomorrow at 12:00 p.m., facing No. 1 Washington University (Mo.) and the University of Rochester at 2:00 p.m.