New England Women's
Volleyball Association, Division III

NEWVA Announces All-New England Teams

Springfield, Mass. - The New England Women’s Volleyball Association announced today the 2011 NEWVA All-New England Teams, comprised of the top Division III women’s volleyball players in the region. Twenty-seven players from 15 different institutions were represented on the NEWVA First, Second, Honorable Mention and All-Rookie Teams.

Springfield College senior Lauren Torvi (North Smithfield, R.I.) received the top honor, earning the 2011 NEWVA Player of the Year. Torvi helped lead the Pride to a 34-2 record thus far, including the NEWMAC Championship and the NCAA Division III Regional Championship. Torvi was also named NEWMAC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year and earned AVCA First Team All America honors. She currently ranks 13th nationally in hitting percentage (.378) and points per set (4.93), while also ranking 16th in kills per set (4.14) and 18th in blocks per set (1.2).

The NEWVA Rookie of the Year award went to Wellesley freshman Sydney Carfagno (Los Angeles, Calif.). Carfagno also recently earned NEWMAC Rookie of the Year and AVCA New England Freshman of the Year. The 5-10 outside hitter finished the season with a team-high 274 kills and 39 aces, while posting a .344 hitting percentage and 4.29 kills per set against regionally ranked opponents.

Bowdoin head coach Karen Corey earned the NEWVA Coach of the Year after leading the Polar Bears to the NESCAC Championship and their first-ever bid to the NCAA National Tournament. She also took home the NESCAC Coach of the Year and the AVCA New England Coach of the Year in this, her 6th season as head coach at Bowdoin. The team finished with a program-record 27 wins with just three losses while reaching the NCAA Regional Semifinal.

The NEWVA First, Second and Honorable Mention Teams are each comprised of seven players selected by a vote of all participating member head coaches following the nomination process.

Established 25 years ago, the New England Women’s Volleyball Association is open to all collegiate institutions in New England sponsoring Division III women’s volleyball. Membership has grown to 56 members in 2011, representing nine conferences.

Listed below are the 2011 NEWVA All-New England Teams.

2011 NEWVA ALL NE Teams

(players listed alphabetically)

NEWVA All New England 1st Team
Name	Year	Position	School	Hometown
Kristin Hanczor	Sr	Middle	Bowdoin	Redding, Conn.
Cassy Hanneman	Sr	Setter	UMass Boston	Denver, Colo.
Kendall Lord	Jr	Setter	Tufts	LaJolla, Calif.
Amy Newman	Sr	Outside	Conn College	Los Angeles, Calif.
Tessa Smolinski	So	Outside	Springfield	Hebron, Conn.
Shannon Thompson	Jr	Outside	UMass Boston	Moorpark, Calif.
Lauren Torvi	Sr	Middle	Springfield	North Smithfield, R.I.
NEWVA All New England 2nd Team
Name	Year	Position	School	Hometown
Caitlin Barrett	Jr	Libero	Middlebury	Medfield, Mass.
Isabel Custodio	Jr	Setter	Wellesley	Powell, Ohio
Kelsey DePorto	So	Middle	Coast Guard	Frankfort, Ill.
Kenna Finlayson	Jr	Outside	Rivier	Derry, N.H.
Jane Handel	Sr	Outside	Middlebury	Evanston, Ill.
Krystie Luczynski	So	Middle	Roger Williams	Kensington, Conn.
Molly Rattigan	Sr	Middle	UMass Boston	Dorcehster, Mass.
NEWVA All New England 3rd Team
Name	Year	Position	School	Hometown
Jessica Alvarez	Jr	Outside	Southern Vermont	Eagle Rock, Calif.
Hannah Brickley	So	Outside	Trinity	Melrose, Mass.
Sydney Carfagno	Fr	Outside	Wellesley	Los Angeles, Calif.
Sophia Cornew	So	Setter	Bowdoin	Portola Valley, Calif.
Allyson Le-Bruno	So	Libero	Colby-Sawyer	Medfield, Mass.
Paxton Thornton	Jr	Outside	Western Conn	Sharon, Conn.
Marybeth Torpey	Sr	Outside	Roger Williams	Quincy, Mass.
NEWVA All New England Rookie Team
Name	Year	Position	School	Hometown
Kelly Brennan	Fr	Outside	Tufts	Burr Ridge, Ill.
Sydney Carfagno	Fr	Outside	Wellesley	Los Angeles, Calif.
Molly Giannattassio	Fr	Setter	Springfield	East Lyme, Conn.
Jennifer Hogan	Fr	Setter	Western Conn	Franklin Square, N.Y.
Hayley Hopper	Fr	Outside	Tufts	Carlsbad, Calif.
Isabel Kuhel	Fr	Middle	Tufts	Brisbane, Calif.
Claire Miller	Fr	Outside	Williams	Wilmette, Ill.

NEWVA Player of the Year: Lauren Torvi, Springfield College

NEWVA Rookie of the Year: Sydney Carfagno, Wellesley College

NEWVA Coach of the Year: Karen Corey, Bowdoin College