WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University volleyball junior Lorraine Wingenbach of Buffalo, N.Y., has been named to the All-New England first team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and to the All-University Athletic Association (UAA) second-team. Rookie setter Abby Blasco of Greeley, Colo., was named the UAA Rookie of the Year and earned honorable mention All-Region honors.

Wingenbach, an honorable mention All-UAA selection in each of the past two seasons, is the first Brandeis player to earn volleyball All-Association and All-New England honors since 2003. Wingenbach was a three-time UAA Player of the Week and a four-time All-Tournament selection this season. She led the Association in kills during the regular season, averaging 4.35 kills per game in all matches and 2.98 kills per game in Association play. She also ranked sixth in the league in service aces per game (0.49). In her most recent match, Wingenbach became just the second Brandeis player in the last 10 seasons to reach the 1,500-kill plateau.

Blasco was a two-time All-Tournament selection and one-time UAA Player of the Week. She earned tournament MVP honors for the first time in her career at the Midcoast Classic in Maine on Oct. 5-6. She finished third in the UAA in assists per game (10.98) during the regular season and fourth in UAA matches (9.98). Blasco was also fourth in the conference in service aces per game (0.51) and 10th with a .291 hitting percentage. Blasco is the second Brandeis student-athlete to earn UAA Rookie of the Year honors in 2007-08, joining men's cross country runner Mekonen Gendebo of Cambridge, Mass.

Also earning honorable mention All-UAA honors was sophomore middle blocker Piera Carfagno of Los Angeles, Calif.

Overall this season, the Brandeis volleyball has a 26-10 record under fourth-year head coach Michelle Kim. The Judges earned the top seed in the Eastern College Athletic Conference for the second year in a row and will host the semifinals and finals of the tournament this weekend. If they successfully defend their title, Brandeis will set a new school record with 28 wins this season.

Wingenbach is a 2005 graduate of City Honors School. She is the daughter of Christine Naples of Buffalo, N.Y., and Philip Wingenbach.

Blasco is a 2007 graduate of Frontier Academy. She is the daughter of Leon and Ellie Blasco, Greeley, Colo.

Carfagno is a 2006 graduate of Campbell Hall School. She is the daughter of Edward Carfagno of Los Angeles, Calif., and the late Deborah Carfagno.