The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team split their two matches on Day One of the University Athletic Association Championship Tournament on Friday at the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center in Cleveland, Ohio, falling to the 20th-ranked University of Chicago in the first match 3-2 and defeating Brandeis University 3-1 in the second match.

The Spartans, seeded sixth in the tournament, moved to 13-13 on the season. The third-seeded Maroons moved to 16-9 on the season after falling to No. 14 Emory in the semifinals, while the seventh-seeded Judges fell to 8-19 overall.

CWRU prevailed 26-24 in a tight first set against Chicago. After falling behind 10-2 early in the second set, the Spartans used a 14-5 run to take a 16-15 lead. With the score tied at 22, Case Western Reserve scored the next three points to take a 2-0 lead. The Maroons took the third set 25-13 and set up a decisive fifth set with a 25-23 win in the fourth set. In the final set, Chicago claimed the match with a 15-11 win, sending the Spartans into the consolation semifinals against Brandeis.

Three Spartans put up double-digit kill totals against the Maroons with first-year outside hitter Rea Marfatia leading the squad with 14 kills, sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Ngo adding 11, and junior outside hitter Gianna Lambert contributing 10. First-year libero Alyssa Blessinger had a team-leading 21 digs, while junior setter Sara Rogers added 19 digs and a team-high 27 assists. The Spartans had nine service aces in the match, including a career-high four from first-year defensive specialist Deme Yianas and three from Blessinger.

CWRU led throughout the first set against Brandeis, eventually winning 25-18. In the middle of the second set, the Judges went on a 9-2 run to take a 20-12 lead. The Spartans' comeback was not enough, with the team falling 25-17 in the set. Case Western Reserve battled throughout the third set, but trailed 17-14. A run of five straight points gave the Spartans a two-point advantage, though the Judges tied the score at 19. Ending the set on a 6-1 run, CWRU took a 2-1 match lead with a 25-20 win in the third set. The Spartans took the fourth and final set 25-22 to secure the win.   

Offensively, Marfatia again led the team with a career-high 19 kills, while Ngo added 15 kills. Rogers contributed a team-high 35 assists with first-year setter Ansley Yamaato contributing 13 assists.

On the defensive side, four Spartans recorded at least 10 digs. Blessinger led the squad with 24 digs, Rogers added 20, Marfatia had 19, and Yamaato contributed 10.

CWRU will conclude its season with the Tournament's Fifth Place Match against fourth-seeded Washington University in St. Louis on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Veale Center on Court 3.