The Justice

Libero Shannon Trees '08, front, practices her serve. Photo by Sara Brandenburg/the Justice

The volleyball team retains every key contributor from last season's East Coast Athletic Conference championship squad, but coach Michelle Kim said the incoming rookies will still compete for starting positions.

"Competition is a good thing," she says. "It makes a team better to have players that are not too comfortable in their shoes, and [the newcomers] mean we have more of that this year than last year."

Newcomers Elizabeth Villalind '11, Nicole Smith '11 and Abby Blasco '11 join a returning nucleus that includes outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach '09 and middle blocker Piera Carfagno '10. Wingenbach, the most valuable player of the ECAC tournament, and Carfagno both made the all-University Athletic Association team last season.

Setter Violette Ruggiero '09, middle blocker Bridget McAllister '10, outside hitter Becca Schwartz '09 and outside position player Ashley Powers '08 fill out the starting lineup, and captain libero Shannon Trees '08 is back to anchor the defense.

A key for continued improvement will be performing better on the road. The Judges won all ten of their home matches last season, but finished 12-17 away from Red Auerbach Arena.

"When we're at away games, we need to focus on the game and not where we're playing," Trees said. "We need to think that we're going to win the game, no matter who we're playing."

The Judges begin the season on the road against Wellesley College Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.

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