Chandler McGrath's match-high 17 kills weren't enough for a Bates victory in a close 3-1 loss at Brandeis on Sept. 16, 2016. (File photo by Josh Kuckens/Bates College)

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Brandeis rallied with three straight set wins after the Bates volleyball team won the opening set in a closely contested 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 28-26, 25-23) non-conference loss for the visiting Bobcats Friday night.

Bates (2-4) opens NESCAC play Saturday at 2pm at Connecticut College.

After the teams split the first two sets, the host Judges (4-5) prevailed in a back-and-forth third set 28-26 to move into the driver's seat. Bates trailed 17-16 in the fourth set before sophomore Claire Naughton's (Darien, Conn.) serving, including two aces, helped the Bobcats reel off four straight points for a 20-17 lead. 

But Brandeis came up with blocks on three straight points to tie the set at 20-all, and the Judges moved ahead 24-22 with a service ace by Jessie Moore. Bates senior captain Chandler McGrath's (Seal Beach, Calif.) kill from junior captain Jacqueline Forney's (Bloomington, Ind.) assist closed the gap to 24-23, but a kill by Jessica Kaufman sealed the win for the hosts.

Brandeis was led by three players with 11 kills apiece -- Moore, Shea Decker-Jacoby and Emma Bartlett -- while Zara Platt added 10. The Judges attacked at a .200 percentage as a team, compared to .113 for Bates.

McGrath had a match-high 17 kills against six attack errors for a .262 percentage. Sophomore Lauren Brough (Killingworth, Conn.) had a career-high nine kills as well as 16 digs.

Naughton added six kills in addition to a match-high seven aces, while first-year Taylor Stafford-Smith (Calabasas, Calif.) and senior Nicole Peraica (East Northport, N.Y.) also had six kills.

Forney had 22 assists with 16 digs, and first-year Gabi Eustache (New York, N.Y.) posted a team-high 21 digs. Junior Augy Silver (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) added 17 digs.