NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- The Brandeis University volleyball team finished in sixth place at the 2006 Hall of Fame Invitational, eight spots higher than their 2005 finish at the tournament. In the Gold Bracket on the second day of action, the Judges defeated Wellesley, 3-0, in the semifinals before falling to Springfield, 3-1, in the fifth-place match. Sophomore setter Violette Ruggiero (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) earned All-Tournament honors for the first time in her career.

In Saturday's first match, Brandeis topped Wellesley, 30-23, 30-26, 30-17.
Rookie middle blocker Piera Carfagno (Los Angeles, Calif.) paced the Judges with 12 kills, 10 digs and four service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach (Buffalo, N.Y.) jus missed a double-double with 10 digs and nine kills, while classmate Ruggiero had 29 assists. Junior opposite Ashley Powers (Waltham, Mass.) contributed six service ace to the Brandeis cause.

Against Springfield the Judges fell, 30-25, 25-30, 30-24, 30-28. Rookie middle blocker Bridget McAllister (Santa Clara, Calif.) had 17 kills, seven digs, four blocks and two service aces. Wingenbach had her first double-double of the tournament 13 kills and 11 digs, while Carfagno had her second, registering 12 kills, 12 digs and adding six service aces for good measure. Ruggiero had 48 assists, giving her an average of more than 10 digs per game for the tournament.