WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE FRESHMAN ASHLEY O'KEEFE NAMED GNAC ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Western New England College freshman Ashley O'Keefe (South Dennis, MA) has been selected the 2004 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Volleyball Rookie-of-the-Year.

O'Keefe, a 5'11" middle hitter, also was named to the All-GNAC First Team after leading the Golden Bears in hitting percentage (.347), solo blocks (81), and total blocks (187).

Senior setter Mandee Signor (East Haven, CT) and sophomore outside hitter Amy Lorinovich (Hampstead, NH) made the All-GNAC Second Team.

Signor led the team in assists (729) while Lorinovich was first in kills (302). She was a three-time All-GNAC Second Team honoree. Lorinovich made the All-GNAC Third team as a rookie.

O'Keefe and Signor are sport management majors while Lorinovich is a marketing/advertising major.

Western New England College posted a 20-15 record for its sixth straight winning season and third straight 20-win campaign. The Golden Bears also placed third in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) with an 8-2 mark.