The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team advanced to the Fifth Place Match at the 2022 University Athletic Association Volleyball Championship at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York after falling to fourth-seeded Emory University in the quarterfinals before defeating eighth-seeded Brandeis University in the consolation semifinals on Friday. CWRU will face off against third-seeded Chicago on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Spartans, who are seeded fifth in the tournament, are now 22-5 on the season. The Eagles, ranked sixth nationally, improved to 20-6 after advancing to the UAA Championship Match with a win over top-seeded New York University later in the day, while the Judges fell to 12-15 overall with two losses.

(4) Emory 3, (5) CWRU 0 (17-25, 15-25, 23-25)

First-year outside hitter Kalli Wall led the team with 11 kills in the first match of the day. Sophomore setter Ansley Yamaato had a team-high 11 digs, while also pacing the squad with 14 assists. Defensively, junior libero Alyssa Blessinger added 10 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Rea Marfatia had nine digs and two block assists. Junior middle blocker Jennifer Ngo had a team-leading six block assists, and sophomore right side/outside hitter Chloe Maciejewski added five, with the pair combining for three blocks in the span of four points in the third set.

After fighting back to trail by just one, 14-13, in the first set, the Spartans dropped four of the next five points and 11 of the final 16 to fall behind in the match. Trailing 11-3 early in the second set, CWRU used a 7-3 run to cut its deficit to just four. However, Emory responded with a 9-1 run to lead by 12 and put the second set out of reach.

In the final set, Case Western Reserve led by six, 11-5, before the Eagles tied the score at 12. CWRU won six of the next eight points to stake a four-point lead, and the Spartans led 22-17 later in the set. Emory won eight of the final nine points to win the set and the match.

(5) CWRU 3, (8) Brandeis 0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-17)

After falling to Emory, the Spartans rebounded with a sweep of Brandeis to close the first day of competition.

Ngo led the squad with 10 kills, her ninth match with double digit kills this season. Marfatia added nine kills and 17 digs. Senior setter Sara Rogers led the offensive attack with 18 assists, Blessinger paced the Spartans defensively with 18 digs, and Yamaato contributed 16 assists.

After trailing 12-9 early in the first set, CWRU responded with five straight points to take a two-point lead. The Judges reclaimed a three-point advantage, 18-15, by winning six of the next seven points. Trailing by four, the Spartans, on the service of sophomore defensive specialist Maria Tuepker, won the next six points to lead 22-20. Following a Brandeis point, Case Western Reserve won the final three points to win the first set.

In a tightly contested second set, the score was knotted at 19 following a Spartan attacking error. Marfatia helped the Spartans claim a 23-20 lead by earning two kills, an assist, and a service ace. After a Judge attacking error, first-year middle blocker Amanda Ngo blocked a Brandeis attack to claim the second set for CWRU.

Case Western Reserve built a commanding 13-4 lead with an 8-0 run early in the third set. Brandeis responded by winning the next seven points, cutting its deficit to just two. However, that was the closest the Judges would get, as the Spartans won eight of the final 14 points to finish the three-set sweep.

CWRU, hoping to build its case for an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament, will attempt to avenge an early season three-set loss to Chicago at the first UAA Round Robin in the Fifth Place Match.