ATTLEBORO, Mass. - All eight sponsored programs were represented on 2008 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Women's Volleyball All-Conference Team, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. In addition to the All-NECC honors, three separate major individual award winners and the team sportsmanship award were also voted upon and selected this week.

The Elms College Blazers senior outside hitter Jeannette Nunez (Canovanas, P.R.) was named the 2008 NECC Women's Volleyball Player of the Year. Over all she has played in and started 22 matches with 76 sets tallying 250 kills (3.29 kills per set), 50 service aces, 155 digs (2.04), 5 blocks and four assists. In conference play, Nunez had 90 kills (3.75 kills per set), 32 aces and 37 digs (1.54).

Daniel Webster Eagles' freshman outside hitter Amanda Wilson (Merrimack, N.H.) nabbed the 2008 NECC Women's Volleyball Rookie of the Year for her first season of collegiate play. Wilson, a sport management major,  played 19 matches with 62 sets notching 125 kills (2.02 kills per set), 49 service aces, 79 digs (1.27) and four assists. In NECC action, she had 61 kills (2.77 kills per game, 16 aces and 31 digs (1.41).

Nunez was joined by her coach Sheila Gisbrecht earning top NECC honors. Gisbrecht was named the 2008 Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year. She led the Blazers to share the top spot with a 6-1 NECC record and a 9-13 overall record. She finished conference action with a .857 winning percentage garnering the #2 spot in the 2008 NECC Women's Volleyball Championships after a tie-breaker procedure with Daniel Webster.

The Lynx of Lesley University, led by head coach Liz Morris, were honored as the 2008 NECC Team Sportsmanship Award recipients. The Lynx concluded conference play tied for third place with a 5-2 finish and 9-10 on the season. They earned the #4 seed after a tie-breaker procedure with Becker College.

Voting for the All-NECC team and each of the major awards was conducted among all NECC men's soccer coaches.

Joining Nunez  on first team were fellow Blazers' junior setter Kim Phillips (Randolph, Mass.), freshman outside hitter Jen Rego (Falls River, Mass.) and freshman middle hitter Stacy Croteau (Agawam, Mass.) along with Becker senior middle blocker Rachel Pinak (Cheektowaga, N.Y.), Mitchell sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Davis (Ledyard, Conn.) and Lesley senior setter Gianna Spaziante (Hawthorne, N.Y.).

Second team honors went out to six student-athletes. Joining Wilson on second team were fellow Eagles' freshman setter Caitlyn DiPierro (Billerica, Mass.) and junior middle blocker Kristina Rieger (Concord, N.H.);  along with Lynx senior Libero Hanna Sakamoto (Tokyo, Japan) and junior middle blocker Lindsey Marek (Killingworth, Conn.) and finally Newbury freshman outside hitter Tricia Corriveau (Coventry, R.I.).

Five players received honorable mention honors including Bay Path freshman right side hitter Nadine Harkless (Westfield, Mass.), a Mitchell duo junior outside hitter Heather Renae Powers (East Lyme, Conn.) and senior middle blocker Sara Senetcen (Terryville, Conn.); along with  tandem freshman outsides from Southern Vermont Tasha Smith (Capital Heights, Md.) and Joa Claircius (Clermont, Fla.).

2008 ALL-NECC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL FIRST TEAM

Jeannette Nunez, Elms, Senior
Rachel Pinak, Becker, Senior
Kim Phillips, Elms, Junior
Jen Rego, Elms, Freshman
Stephanie Davis, Mitchell, Sophomore
Gianna Spaziante, Lesley, Senior
Stacy Croteau, Elms, Freshman 

2008 ALL-NECC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL SECOND TEAM

Amanda Wilson, Daniel Webster, Freshman
Caitlyn DiPierro, Daniel Webster, Freshman
Kristina Rieger, Daniel Webster, Junior
Hanna Sakamoto, Lesley, Senior
Tricia Corriveau, Newbury, Freshman
Lindsey Marek, Lesley, Junior

2008 ALL-NECC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL HONORABLE MENTION

Heather Renea Powers, Mitchell, Junior
Sara Senetcen, Mitchell, Senior
Nadine Harkless, Bay Path, Freshman
Tasha Smith, Southern Vermont, Freshman
Joa Claircius, Southern Vermont, Freshman

2008 NECC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jeannette Nunez, Elms, SR (Canovanas, P.R.)
2008 NECC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Amanda Wilson, Daniel Webster, FR (Merrimack, N.H.)
2008 NECC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR: Sheila Gisbrecht, Elms College
2008 NECC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Lesley University