The volleyball team not only honored three graduating seniors who helped revitalize the program last weekend, but sent them out with a bang. Brandeis won the Judges Classic with wins over Plymouth State University Friday and Gordon College and the State University of New York at New Paltz Saturday in the last regular-season tournament at home for outside position player Ashley Powers '08, defensive specialist Shannon Trees '08 and outside hitter Katie Wrynn '08.

The Judges are now 23-8 on the season heading into next weekend's University Athletic Association championships.

The weekend was an emotional one for the seniors, who have seen the team improve tremendously over the past four years. They won just one UAA game in their first two seasons, but after contributing to an Eastern College Athletic Conference championship as juniors last season, this senior class has seen the team finish with the third seed in the UAA, behind perennial powers Washington University in St. Louis and Emory University.

"In the four years that I've been here, the team has become a new team," Wrynn said. "I feel like anything is going to happen next weekend. It's been really great to see that progression from where we were at the start of the progression to where we are now."

Coach Michelle Kim was grateful for the contributions of the three seniors during their careers.

"They've put a lot of heart and energy into the team," she said, "They were part of the whole building process, and I'm just really happy to have a great season in their last year."

The Judges defeated Plymouth Friday night in three straight games and continued where they left off Saturday morning by also sweeping Gordon. They ran into trouble, however, against the New Paltz, who won the first game and kept it close in the next three before the Judges finally pulled it out 29-31, 30-27, 30-27, 30-17.

Though they eventually escaped, the Judges had to come from behind to win. With the score tied at 26 in the first game, none of the six Judges players took charge on a high pass, and it fell between them. The miscue put the Hawks up 27-26, a lead they would not relinquish in winning the game 31-29.

"We just sort of got tense and weren't playing very relaxed volleyball," Kim said. "When the ball drops with so many people just looking at it, it's a big slap in the face."

The Judges eventually adjusted their play but still struggled to win the second game. Once again, the two teams were tied at 26, but several kills by outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach '09 helped the Judges escape with a 30-27 win.

Brandeis pulled out to an early 3-0 lead and was up 27-23 late in the third game, but the Hawks rallied to tie the game at 27. This time, middle blocker Piera Carfagno '10, who was named the tournament's most valuable player for the second consecutive year, finished a point with a key kill to give the Judges the lead again.

This time they didn't give it up, winning two more points for a 30-27 game victory.

That was the closest New Paltz got, as the Judges never trailed after being down 3-2 early in the fourth game. Brandeis had leads of 21-9 and 25-12 before winning 30-17.

"I think New Paltz shut down a little bit," Kim said. "We stayed aggressive, and we stuck to our game plan, but they made a lot of different subs, and I think they were a little confused by that too."

Earlier in the day, the Judges defeated Gordon 30-11, 30-22 and 31-29. Led by Wingenbach's long rally on her serve, Brandeis went up 10-2 early in the first game and never looked back. The Judges also swept Plymouth 30-25, 30-16, 30-16 last Friday.

Kim said it was good for Brandeis to prove early on who the better team was in both games.

"We are definitely the stronger team," she said. "To take care of it in three [games], that was a good thing for us."

The Judges next play in the UAA Conference Championships at Rochester, N.Y. Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. The team finished in sixth place in the tournament last season.