ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth junior setter Kate Zwickl was a repeat selection and junior middle blocker Katelynn Reed was a first-team selection for the first time as the Empire 8 Conference announced its 2008 all-star teams for women's volleyball.

Senior outside hitter Laura Persico was a second-team choice, freshman outside hitter Audrey Zimmerman was named Rookie of the Year and junior libero Mallorie Clary was named Defensive Specialist of the Year. The teams were chosen through voting by the league's nine head coaches.

Zwickl, of Chester, N.Y. and a graduate of Warwick High School, was also a first-team selection in 2007. She leads the Empire 8 and is among the nation's leaders in assists with 1,050 (10.61 per set). Reed , of Horseheads, N.Y. and a graduate of Horseheads High School, leads the Empire 8 and is among the Division III leaders with a .421 hitting percentage that includes 232 kills. She also leads the Golden Flyers in service aces with 51 and in blocks with 64.

Persico, of Ravena, N.Y. and a graduate of Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School, was a first-team choice in 2006 and 2007. She leads the Golden Flyers with 341 kills and recorded her 1,600th career kill in Wednesday's match at Rochester.

Clary, of Baltimore, Md. and a graduate of Catonsville High School, leads the Golden Flyers in digs with 513 (4.62 per set) while Zimmerman, of East Aurora, N.Y. and a graduate of East Aurora High School, ranks third on the team in kills with 223.

Nazareth finished second in the regular-season Empire 8 Conference standings and will compete in next weekend's E8 Conference Tournament at Stevens.

2008 Empire 8 All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Melanie Volk, Stevens
Rookie of the Year: Audrey Zimmerman, Nazareth
Defensive Specialist of the Year: Mallorie Clary, Nazareth

First Team
Sarah Byrne, so. OH, Stevens
Victoria Petko, jr. MB, RIT
Katelynn Reed, jr. MB, Nazareth
Melanie Volk, sr. OH, Stevens
Alyssa Ziobrowski, sr. OH, St. John Fisher
Kate Zwickl, jr. S, Nazareth

Second Team
Corinna Doctor, jr. S, Ithaca
Jessica Gardner, sr. MB, Stevens
Jen Heberton, jr. OH Ithaca
Sydney Kandefer, so. MB St. John Fisher
Laura Persico, sr. OH Nazareth
Melissa Rhode, sr. S/RS, Stevens

Sportswoman of the Year
Emily Steen, jr. Alfred
Jennifer Jenkins, sr. Elmira
Courtney Desmond, fr. Hartwick
Brianna D'Errico, sr. Ithaca
Emily Payne, jr. Nazareth
Kate Gleason, sr. RIT
Morgen Kandefer, sr. St. John Fisher
Bethany Rankie, sr. Stevens
Heather Jackson, so. Utica

Honorable Mention: Nichole Boxler, RIT; Elaina Braun, St. John Fisher; Kayleigh Cassetta, St. John Fisher; Courtney Desmond, Hartwick; Janice Embury, Elmira; Summer Hamilton, Stevens