For Immediate Release
November 11, 2008
Wellesley Sports Information
Four Wellesley Volleyball Players Earn All-Conference Honors
BABSON PARK, Mass. - The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) announced its 2008 Women's Volleyball Post-season awards on Tuesday. Wellesley placed four athletes on the All-Conference team with seniors Emily Peters (Temescal Valley, CA) and Jessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK) and junior Alice Cummings (Tallahassee, FL) earning first-team recognition. Sophomore Samantha Du (Houston, TX) earned a spot on the second team.
Peters, a senior, makes her second appearance on the All-Conference team after earning second-team honors a year ago. The team and NEWMAC leader in digs with 574 on the season, she has also recorded 29 serving aces this year.
Outside hitters Duff and Cummings both earned All-Conference honors for the first time. Duff has racked up 418 kills this season, ranking her first on the team and second in the NEWMAC. She has also recorded 483 points this season, which puts her fourth on the conference list in points per game. Cummings boasts a top-ten spot in three of the NEWMAC statistical categories this season, ranking sixth in kills (370), eighth in hitting percentage (.246) and ninth in points (407.5).
Du, a middle blocker, also earns All-Conference accolades for the first time in her career. The team leader in hitting percentage (.298) and blocks (104), she ranks third in the NEWMAC in both categories.
Wellesley volleyball advanced to the NEWMAC title game this season and also earned an at-large bid to the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament. The Blue, 26-7 overall, are seeded #3 in the eight-team regional tournament, hosted at Tufts University on November 13-15. Wellesley will face #6 Endicott in the first round on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. The New England regional also includes Springfield (#1), Tufts (#2), Williams (#4), Keene State (#5), Bridgewater State (#7) Maine Maritime (#8).
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Emily Peters |
Jessica Duff |
Alice Cummings |
Samantha Du |
2008 NEWMAC Volleyball All-Conference Team and Award Winners
NEWMAC Athlete of the Year:
Heather Lively, Springfield
NEWMAC Co-Rookies of the Year:
Cecily Joujon-Roche, MIT
Kim Giaquinto, Springfield
NEWMAC Coach of the Year:
Joel Dearing, Springfield
NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award:
Mount Holyoke
First Team All-Conference
Nicole Gurr, Coast Guard, MB
Alex May, MIT, OH
Heather Lively, Springfield, OH
Heidi Yohe, Springfield, L
Alice Cummings, Wellesley, OH
Jessica Duff, Wellesley, OH
Emily Peters, Wellesley, L
Second Team All-Conference
Caitlin O'Neill, Babson, MB
Barden Cleeland, MIT, MH
Katrina Ellison, MIT, OPP
Mikal Minarich, Smith, OH
Aylene Ilkson, Springfield, OH
Bethany Stosz, Springfield, MB
Samantha Du, Wellesley, MB