Finlayson named 2nd Team All New England

Springfield, MA - 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.

Junior Kenna Finlayson was named to the 2nd Team after a tremendous season as an outside hitter for the Rivier College Raiders. A native of Derry, New Hampshire, Finlayson recorded an impressive 594 kills in 32 games (18.5 kills per match). She also had a .248 hitting percentage while capturing the 2011 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors.

Finlayson was one of the catalysts in helping the Women's Volleyball program obtain their fourth GNAC Tournament Championship. Over the course of the three tournament games, the Raiders were an impressive 9-2 in the 11 sets they played; including sweeps of Lasell and Emmanuel. She was named the 2011 GNAC Tournament MVP after recording 20 kills in the Championship match at Emerson.

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