LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – IUP's
Natalie Cignetti (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) and
Gabby Egler (Pittsburgh, Pa./Barack Obama Academy) each earned first team honors as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced its 2017 all-league teams as part of its postseason awards on Thursday afternoon.
The Crimson Hawks are one of two teams in the conference with a pair of first teamers. The duo helped IUP to a PSAC Southwest Division regular season title and league-best 15-3 conference record in 2017. IUP earned the top seed in the conference tournament and will take a 24-9 overall record into a likely NCAA postseason championships berth.
Cignetti was also named the PSAC Women's Volleyball Athlete of the Year, garnering all-conference honors for the third time in her career, including two straight first team nods. One of the top players in Division II, she leads the PSAC and ranks 12th in the country with 4.34 kills per set. Her 469 kills is also among the best marks in Division II and ranks second in the conference.
One of the best players in program history, Cignetti became the fourth IUP player to reach 1,000 career kills and is currently third all-time with 1,283 kills. Her 3.67 career kills per set is also the third best mark in IUP history.
First career all-conference nod for Egler
A senior middle blocker, Egler has played a vital role both offensively and defensively for the Crimson Hawks. She's currently tied for sixth in the PSAC with 1.01 blocks per set and set a career-high with 107 total blocks. Egler posted a season-best 9.0 total blocks (seven assists, two solo) at Seton Hill and had at least five total blocks 15 times in 30 matches.
Offensively, she has posted a career-best .313 hitting percentage, which currently ranks seventh among PSAC leaders. She's also second on the team with 306.5 total points and fourth with 231 kills – both career-bests. Egler has 10 double-figure kill outings, including 15 against Edinboro in the PSAC quarterfinals and 14 on two other occasions.
PSAC postseason awards
The 30 total first, second and third team selections are part of the PSAC's 2017 women's' volleyball awards announced on Thursday afternoon. In addition to these, Cignetti was named Athlete of the Year and
Scott Pennewill was named Coach of the Year.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPVB.
