CHICAGO – The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team posted a 2-0 record on the first day of the 2012 University Athletic Association Round Robin #1 at the Ratner Center. The Spartans swept Brandeis University (Mass.) and defeated the University of Rochester (N.Y.) in four. 

The Spartans (14-3 overall, 2-0 UAA) defeated Brandeis (11-5, 0-1 UAA) via scores of 25-18, 25-19 and 25-20 then upended Rochester 25-20, 18-25, 25-19 and 25-12.  No. 1 nationally-ranked Washington University (Mo.) is Case's final opponent of the weekend on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. (CDT).

In the opener, sophomore middle hitter Natalie Southard (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors School) recorded a team-high 12 kills in just 21 attempts for a .429 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Carolyn Bogart (New Berlin, Wis./New Berlin Eisenhower) contributed nine kills to the attack. Senior setter Breana Freeman (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) paced the offense with 17 kills.

Defensively, Bogart and senior libero Rachel Gulasey (Cleveland, Ohio/Magnificat) each tallied 11 digs.

Versus Rochester (15-6, 0-2 UAA), Bogart posted another double-double of 11 kills and 10 digs. The freshman now has three-straight double-doubles. Freeman and freshman Robyn Marks (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Mott) shared the setting duties with 19 and 17 assists, respectively.

Defensively, Gulasey led the way with 17 digs.

The Spartans will look to re-create some of their upset magic versus Washington (Mo.) tomorrow. The last time the two met with WU as the No. 1 team in the country, Case pulled a 3-1 upset in 2010.