NEWVA Announces All-New England Teams
BRISTOL, R.I.- The New England Women's Volleyball Association announced today the 2008 NEWVA All-New England Teams, comprised of the top Division III women's volleyball players in the region.
Springfield College sophomore Heather Lively (Royalston, Mass.) received the top honor, earning 2008 NEWVA Player of the Year. The University of Delaware transfer has recorded 497 kills, averaging just over four per set. She was also recently named New England Woman's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Player of the Year.
Players from 12 different institutions earned a spot on the prestigious teams. Joining Lively on the NEWVA All-New England First Team are Williams College teammates Kate Anderson (Berlin, Mass.) and Nicole Ballon-Landa (La Jolla, Calif.). In addition, Wesleyan's Lisa Drennan (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Wellesley's Jessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK), Tufts' Dena Feiger (Long Grove, Ill.) and MIT's Alex May (Des Moines, Iowa) all earned a position on the first team.
The complete rosters of the first, second and honorable mention teams are listed below, as well as the 2008 NEWVA Rookie of the Year. That honor was awarded to Jane Handel (Evanston, Ill.) from Middlebury College. Handel posted 3.55 kills per set, notching 327 in 92 sets played. She also averaged nearly three digs per set and was recently named New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Rookie of the Year.
Players were selected by a vote of all participating member head coaches following the nomination process.
Listed below are the 2008 NEWVA All-New England Teams.
2008 NEWVA ALL New England Teams
(players listed alphabetically)1st Team
| Kate Anderson | Williams | Berlin, MA |
| Nicole Ballon-Landa | Williams | La Jolla, CA |
| Lisa Drennan | Wesleyan | Ann Arbor, MI |
| Jessica Duff | Wellesley | Milton, Abingdon, UK |
| Dena Feiger | Tufts | Long Grove, IL |
| Heather Lively | Springfield | Royalston, MA |
| Alex May | MIT | Des Moines, IA |
| Nicole Gurr | USCGA | Acton, CA |
| Sara Heller | Amherst | La Canada, CA |
| Aylene Ilkson | Springfield | Baldwin, NY |
| Dawson Joyce-Mendive | Tufts | Minden, NV |
| Brittany O’Bryant | Keene St. | Merrimack, NH |
| Emily Peters | Wellesley | Temescal Valley, CA |
| Caitlin Tomaska | Conn. College | Solana Beach, CA |
Honorable Mention
| Paige Blasco | Brandeis | Greeley, CO |
| Catherine Bravo | Johnson & Wales | Toa Boya, Puerto Rico |
| Alice Cummings | Wellesley | Tallahassee, FL |
| Samantha Du | Wellesley | Houston, TX |
| Natalie Goldstein | Tufts | Piedmont, CA |
| Victoria Peng | Wellesley | Diamond Bar, CA |
| Lorraine Wingenbach | Brandeis | Buffalo, NY |
Player of the Year - Heather Lively Springfield Royalston, MA
Rookie of the Year - Jane Handel Middlebury Evanston, IL