The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to open the 2018 University Athletic Association Championship Tournament on Friday at the Louis Alexander Palestra in Rochester, New York. The fifth-seeded Spartans fell to fourth-seeded Carnegie Mellon University in three, and then were defeated by Brandeis University in four sets.

CWRU (17-14) concludes the season in the conference's seventh-place match tomorrow morning versus the University of Rochester at 10:00 a.m.

Versus Carnegie Mellon (22-8), the Spartans fell by scores of 25-18, 25-17 and 25-13.

Statistically, junior outside hitter Karley King and sophomore middle blocker Katie Kaminski each posted a team-best five kills. Junior setter Faith Ellis led in assists with 10. Sophomore libero Anna Jaskoviak led the Spartans with 15 digs, while freshman outside hitter Lauren Carmon contributed 12.

Carnegie Mellon was led by Sarah Jurgens who tallied 12 kills, while Erika Foose contributed 11 to the attack.

Against Brandeis (12-17), the Spartans fell by counts of 12-25, 25-13, 25-20 and 25-20.

King led the attack with 12 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Jana Giaquinto added eight. Ellis and sophomore setter Jordyn Harberts split the setting duties, as Ellis tallied 15 assists and Harberts recorded 14. The Spartan back row was paced by Jaskoviak with 19 digs.

Brandeis was led by Shea Decker-Jacoby with a game-high 18 kills.

Entering tomorrow's season finale, CWRU is guaranteed its 10^th winning season in 11 years.