WALTHAM, Mass. - Brandeis University sophomore setter Abby Blasco of Greeley, Colo., has been selected as the University Athletic Association Volleyball Co-Player of the Week for her performance in conference matches on Oct 18 and 19. Judge senior outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach of Buffalo, N.Y., also had a fine weekend, becoming Brandeis's all-time kills leader.
Blasco, who returned to the court after missing nearly a month due to injury, quarterbacked Brandeis to a 3-1 weekend with wins over Carnegie Mellon University (3-1), Case Western Reserve University (3-0) and the University of Rochester (3-0). The Judges also suffered a 3-0 loss to Washington University, the No. 4 team in Division III. Blasco averaged 10.62 assists per set for the weekend. She also had 18 kills and just one error in 36 attempts for a team-best .472 hitting percentage and was second on the squad with 37 digs. Blasco had 41 assists and 14 digs against Carnegie Mellon, 35 assists and five digs against Rochester, 23 assists and 13 digs versus Washington and 39 assists, seven kills and five digs in the win over Case. In the Rochester match, the Judges had a season-high .471 hitting percentage and season-low six attack errors. This is the second time in her career the Blasco has earned UAA Player of the Week honors. Her twin sister, sophomore outside hitter Paige was recognized earlier this season.
Wingenbach totaled 38 kills for the Judges, second most on the squad over the weekend. Wingenbach tied Julie Hootnick '01 with 1,717 career kills after recording 11 in the opener against Carnegie Mellon, then surpassed Hootnick with the first kill of the win over Rochester. She finished that match with seven kills and completed the weekend with 1,744 for her career. Wingenbach was a second-team All-UAA selection in 2007 and earned honorable mention All-America honors, the first Brandeis volleyball player to earn that distinction.
Blasco is a 2007 graduate of Frontier Academy. She is the daughter of Leon and Ellie Blasco, Greeley, Colo.
Wingenbach is a 2005 graduate of City Honors School. She is the daughter of Christine Naples of Buffalo, N.Y., and Philip Wingenbach.