Orr Makes History, Cignetti Claims Athlete of the Year to Top PSAC Volleyball All-Conference Teams
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- IUP senior Natalie Cignetti has been named the 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Volleyball Athlete of the Year, the league announced Thursday afternoon in conjunction with the release of the all-conference volleyball teams.
All-conference teams and major award winners are decided by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Cignetti is the second Crimson Hawk to obtain the award while marking the fourth time IUP has boasted the representative. Laura Hall was a three-time winner of the award (2000-02). The Indiana, Pa., product paced the league in kills per set (4.34). In 108 sets, Cignetti amassed 469 kills and led the league in points per set (4.86). The senior produced double-digit kills in 28 of IUP’s 33 matches. She eclipsed the 20-kill plateau in five matches, including a season-high 25 in a four-set win at West Liberty. Cignetti boasted the Crimson Hawk defense with 18 matches of at least 10 digs or more, including 17 on two occasions.
Pitt-Johnstown senior Devan Orr claimed the Defensive Athlete of the Year for the fourth consecutive season. She is the first PSAC volleyball athlete to win the award in all four seasons and only the third athlete to win four major awards in her volleyball career. Lock Haven’s Li Yizhi was the last athlete to accomplish the feat after winning athlete of the year on three occasions and freshman of the year. Orr broke the PSAC career record for digs earlier in the season. Orr has amassed 661 on the season and 2844 in her career. The previous record was held by Clarion’s Rhianon Brady (2682). Orr and the Mountain Cats are set to battle Edinboro Friday, Nov. 17 in a PSAC Championship Semifinal. The senior produced the third-most digs this season while averaging the fifth-most per set in the league (5.75).
Shippensburg’s Emily Hangen was tabbed the Freshman of the Year. She is sixth Raider to claim the award and first since her teammate, Samantha Webber, garnered the award last season. Hangen is one of four athletes to amass 1000 assists (1092) this season. She is second in the PSAC with 10.60 assists per set. She produced at least 40 assists on 11 occasions, including a season-high 57 in a five-set thriller against LHU. The freshman chipped in with 66 kills and 266 digs on the season.
IUP’s Scott Pennewill grabbed the Coach of the Year. It marked the first time in his career he garnered the honor while marking the third time IUP has won it. He is the second Crimson Hawk coach to accomplish the feat (Carmine Cortazzo, 2001 & 02). The Crimson Hawks earned the No. 1 seed in the PSAC Championship and sit a No. 3 in the Atlantic Region. IUP finished tied for third in hitting percentage (.209) while holding opponents to the league’s third-lowest mark (.108). Under his direction, a pair of IUP athletes earned first-team all-conference honors.
Orr and teammate Marissa Erminio appeared on their fourth all-conference team while Cignetti, Edinboro’s Sydney Trathen and Challen Litwiler and Clarion’s Taylor Braunagel made their third appearance.
A full list of honorees is below.
Athlete of the Year: Natalie Cignetti, IUP
Defensive Player of the Year: Devan Orr, Pitt-Johnstown
Freshman of the Year: Emily Hangen, Shippensburg
Coach of the Year: Scott Pennewill, IUP
PSAC VOLLEYBALL FIRST-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| OH |
Natalie Cignetti^* |
IUP |
Sr. |
Indiana, Pa. / Indiana |
| MH |
Leah Bisgnani |
Seton Hill |
R-So. |
Greensburg, Pa. / Greensburg Central Catholic |
| OH |
Kelsey Ansec^ |
Gannon |
Sr. |
Solon, Ohio / Solon |
| OH |
Taylor Braunagel^^ |
Clarion |
Sr. |
Milford, Pa. / Delaware Valley |
| S/OPP |
Sydney Trathen** |
Edinboro |
Sr. |
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / Stow Munroe Falls |
| MB |
Samantha Webber |
Shippensburg |
So. |
Coplay, Pa. / Parkland |
| DS |
Devan Orr*^* |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Sr. |
Carol Stream, Ill. / West Chicago |
| OH |
Marissa Erminio**^ |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Sr. |
Hopwood, Pa. / Laurel Highlands |
| S |
Jillian Grammer+ |
West Chester |
Jr. |
Center Valley, Pa. / Southern Lehigh |
| MB |
Gabby Egler |
IUP |
Sr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Barack Obama Academy |
PSAC VOLLEYBALL SECOND-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| OH/OPP |
Cierah Jackson |
Edinboro |
Fr. |
Berea, Ohio / Padua Franciscan |
| OH |
Ally Smith |
Gannon |
So. |
Penfield, N.Y. / Churchville-Chilli |
| OH |
Erin Harman |
Millersville |
Sr. |
Hanover, Pa. / South Western |
| S/RS |
Maggie Murray |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
Erie, Pa. / Erie McDowell |
| S |
Emily Hangen |
Shippensburg |
Fr. |
Reading, Pa. / Exeter Township |
| OH/L |
Challen Litwiler*^ |
Edinboro |
Sr. |
Harmonsburg, Pa. / Conneaut Area |
| L/DS |
Catherine Ferragonio |
Clarion |
Sr. |
Irwin, Pa. / Norwin |
| DS |
Courtnery Oberlander+ |
Slippery Rock |
Sr. |
Waterford, Pa. / Ft. Leboeuf |
| OH |
Morgan DeFloria+ |
Shippensburg |
Jr. |
Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield Area |
| MH |
Caitlin Vrabel |
Pitt-Johnstown |
So. |
Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg |
PSAC VOLLEYBALL THIRD-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| OH |
Rachel Priore |
California |
So. |
Bartlett, Ill. / South Elgin |
| OPP |
Shelby Chesko |
Mercyhurst |
Jr. |
Blacklick, Ohio / Bishop Hartley |
| DS |
Nicki Yates^ |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Coopersburg, Pa. / Southern Lehigh |
| MB |
Victoria Cruciani+ |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Phoenixville, Pa. / Pope John Paul II |
| MB |
Maggie Wilhelm |
Gannon |
Sr. |
Euclid, Ohio / Lake Catholic |
| OH |
Viktoria Farian |
Seton Hill |
Fr. |
Richfield, Ohio / Revere |
| MB |
Ashley Kerestes |
Gannon |
Fr. |
Loves Park, Ill. / Rockford Lutheran |
| OH |
Sarah Smith |
East Stroudsburg |
So. |
Circleville, N.Y. / Pine Bush |
| OH |
Karleigh Lutz+ |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley |
| OH |
Julia Holden |
Clarion |
So. |
Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick |
* Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection
+ Indicates previous All-PSAC third team selection