Women go undefeated in conference

Volume 109 >> Issue 62 : Tuesday, February 6, 1990

Women go undefeated in conference

@ByName:By David Rothstein

The Engineers were undefeated in NEW8 play (8-0) and posted a 25-5 record for the season. In the NEW8 conference final, MIT blew by Smith College in three games to regain the title, which it had lost to the Pioneers the year before. It was the Engineers' second NEW8 title since the conference's inception three years ago.

Along with the championship, MIT was honored by the selection of senior co-captain Cecilia Warpinski as NEW8 Volleyball Athlete of the Year and Karyn Altman '78 as Coach of the Year.

Warpinski was also named to the all-tournament teams in the Salem State and Eastern Connecticut University Invitational tournaments. Senior co-captain and setter Jenny Harris made the Eastern Connecticut all-tournament team as well, and later was named a GTE All-American, an award given for athletic and academic excellence.

Competition from other NEW8 teams was not extraordinary. Bates College, a school outside the conference, was the only team which gave MIT trouble throughout the season, handing the Engineers three of their four regular-season losses. Aside from the NEW8 championship, perhaps the strongest indication of the team's caliber came in winning the Albany State tournament in late October.

Altman will have to count on a number of freshmen next fall and the continued improvement of this year's underclassmen if she expects her team to match MIT's success of the past few years, for the Engineers graduate five seniors in June.

Most sorely missed, perhaps, will be Warpinski, an excellent passer and outside hitter, and along with Harris, a spirited team leader. The loss of Harris will leave the team weak at the setting position, and experienced middle hitters like Debbie Nungester '90 are always hard to come by.

Tonya Parker '90 also departs after an effective season at the outside hitting spot.

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