Waltham, Mass.- With a pair of victories over Gordon College and SUNY-New Paltz, the Brandeis University volleyball team wins the annual Judges Classic.
In the first match against the Gordon Fighting Scots, the Judges swept with scores of 30-11, 30-22 and 31-29. Sophomore middle-blocker Piera Carfagno (Los Angeles, Calif.) led the team in kills, putting down 14 and earning an impressive .464 hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach followed with 13 and freshman outside hitter Elizabeth Villalino (Kailua, Hawaii) earned 10 kills for the match. Rookie setter Abby Blasco (Greeley, Colo.) also had an impressive performance, tallying 36 assists and 10 digs. Defensively, junior libero Violette Ruggiero (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) led with a match-high 20 digs.
In the closest match of the tournament against SUNY-New Paltz, the Judges started off a little shaky, losing the first game at 29-31 after letting go of a 26-23 lead. However, after one loss, the volleyball team followed with three consecutive wins at 30-27, 30-27 and 30-17. Rookie setter Blasco had a great all-around performance, earning 5 kills, 55 assists, two aces and 15 digs. Wingenbach led the team in kills, putting down 21, while sophomore Bridget McAllister (Santa Clara, Calif.) had 8 kills in the match. Defensively, Ruggiero led again with a match-high 22 digs.
Tournament honors went to junior libero and captain Ruggiero, who tallied 52 digs throughout the tournament, and put up two service aces.
MVP tournament honors went to sophomore Carfagno, who had a fine weekend, earning 42 kills in just three matches, five service aces and three blocks.
The Judges improve their overall record to 23-8.