It proved to be a happy return last weekend for Violette Ruggiero '09, the volleyball team's libero.The Judges' co-captain, who missed the first five games of the season with an ankle injury, returned to action to help the Judges defeat Bridgewater State College 3-0 and Williams College 3-2 at home Saturday. The wins pushed the team's record to 6-1 on the season.

"It feels good to be back out," Ruggiero said. "I can stand a little pain to try and help out the team."

Coach Michelle Kim said she was happy with the Judges' performance.

"I thought they played very well," she said. "They just stuck to the game plan and responded to every challenge that came at us."

In the match against previously undefeated Williams College, Brandeis won the first two games to take an early lead.

Two straight wins by Williams evened the match, but the Judges took control early in the decisive fifth frame, led by Ruggiero's game-opening six-point serve rally, and eventually won 15-8.

"That's exactly what I said to [the team] before we started the fifth game," coach Michelle Kim said. "'Remember, this game is only to 15. Whoever gets a fast start is going to win this [match].'"

The first game was close early, but a long serving rally by middle blocker Piera Carfagno '10 propelled the Judges to a 30-19 win.

The second game, however, proved to be more of a challenge. Williams pulled ahead 29-24, giving the Ephs five chances to close out the game.

Kim called timeout, and the Judges responded with seven straight points on Ruggiero's serve to win 31-29.

"I really think [the win against Williams] was a huge confidence booster for us, knowing that we could come back from that kind of deficit against a really good team," Kim said.

Ruggiero was quick to credit her teammates' play for the comeback.

"It was more the defense that kept the serve alive because [Williams] was sending everything back to us," she said.

The Judges, however, couldn't muster a similar comeback effort in the third game. Williams led 9-1 early and cruised to a 30-15 win. Brandeis then appeared to be on its way to victory in the fourth game, leading 27-24 late, but Williams rallied to win 30-28, setting up the decisive fifth game.

After the match, Williams coach Fran Vandermeer said both teams benefited from the tough competition.

"I think this is a good match to play," he said. "I think both teams will learn from this. Even during the match, you saw both teams grow."

The Judges defeated Bridgewater State College 3-0 earlier in the day.

Outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach's '09 long serving streak gave the Judges a 14-5 lead in the first game, and the team won easily, 30-12.

The Judges also took the second game 30-12 and won the third game 30-11.

Wingenbach had two aces, including the game-winner, in the third game, and kills by outside hitters Becca Schwartz '09 and Elizabeth Villalino '11 helped Brandeis close out the victory.

The Judges play next at the Amherst College Classic Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. and Sept. 22 at 10 a.m.