The Justice

MVP Lorraine Wingenbach '09, left, attempts a slam in the semifinals. David Sheppard-Brick/the Justice

One week after seeing its NCAA Tournament chances fade away, the volleyball team rebounded to seize the one tournament it already knew how to win.

The Judges defended their Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Division III title last weekend, sweeping three consecutive teams. They beat eighth-seeded Plymouth State University in the quarterfinals last Wednesday night and followed that up with two more 3-0 wins over fifth-seeded Keene State College in the semifinals and third-seeded Colby-Sawyer College in the finals last Saturday to retain the championship it won last season.

With the title, the Judges clinched a school record for wins in a season, finishing 28-10.

"It's definitely an accomplishment," coach Michelle Kim said. "This year, we have accomplished a lot of things, a lot of 'first time since whatever year,' but we've never had [an accomplishment] where [it's] 'first time ever' doing this."

Outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach '09 won the Most Valuable Player award for the second straight year and also received first team all-New England and second team all-University Athletic Association honors. Setter Abby Blasco '11 was named the UAA Rookie of the Year.

"We'll be having nightmares about [Wingenbach]," Colby-Sawyer coach Chad Braeggelmann said.

At the start of the championship match against Colby-Sawyer, it looked like the Judges might not break the wins record. They trailed 5-0 early in the first game and later fell behind 12-6. But the Judges slowly chipped away at the lead until a Wingenbach kill tied the game at 15. After the teams traded four points, the Judges scored four straight to take a 21-17 lead they never relinquished, winning the game 30-21.

The Judges carried their momentum from the first game into the second, taking an early 8-3 lead with Wingenbach serving and eventually winning 30-22. They never let Colby-Sawyer string together a rally, as the Chargers only scored more than two points in a row once during the game.

The Judges trailed 19-18 in the third game before Wingenbach keyed a 10-3 with five kills in a six-point span. The Chargers wouldn't quit and won four straight points to pull to within 28-26, but after a Brandeis timeout, they clinched the title with two straight kills by middle blocker Bridget McAllister '10.

Continued...

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