While the volleyball team did not finish as well as it had hoped at the nine-team Brandeis Invitational last weekend, ending with a 2-2 record, the Judges still got a top performance from middle blocker Nicole Smith '11. Smith was named to the all-tournament team after being a crucial contributer in giving the Judges' two wins. She was one of two middle blockers to be selected to the nine-person squad. One girl was selected from each squad.

"It's an honor to be recognized for the work I put into this weekend, and for others teams and coaches to recognize that, it is [always] an honor to make an all-tournament team," Smith said. "It is something I will cherish."

Smith had 27 kills in the tournament, tying for third place on the team, but what stood out the most was her .440 hitting percentage. Smith's success rate led the team for the entire tournament.

Smith also committed only five offensive errors in the four games in which the team played.

Smith was not only an effective player on offense, but she also was a stalwart on the defensive side. She was credited with 12 blocked shots, two of which were solo, but her 6-foot-1-inch presence was certainly known each time she was on the court.

Despite the success Smith had in the tournament, she felt that the team as a whole needs to work on different aspects of its game in order to improve.

"Next week, we need to work on our fundamentals and stay focused to reach our goal," she said.

The Judges will play at Endicott College Thursday at 7 p.m. in their next match before taking part in a rematch against Tufts University, a team they lost to in straight sets last weekend at the?Brandeis Invitational, on Sept. 22. Tufts defeated the Judges 27-25, 25-15, 25-19 last weekend.