Penn State Altoona women’s basketball student athletes Jess Burns, of South Fayette, and Camryn Figard, of Hollidaysburg, were recognized for their success in the classroom on Tuesday, March 26, when both student athletes were named to the College Sports Communicators’ Division III Academic All-District team.
GREENWOOD, Ind. — The College Sports Communicators (CSC) organization, formerly known as the College Sports Information Directors of America, continued its fall Academic All-District team announcements on Tuesday, Nov. 22, releasing its list of women’s volleyball honorees.
Penn State Altoona had four women’s volleyball student-athletes named to the CSC’s Division III Academic All-District team, as libero Erin Lutz, of State College; setter Kayla Moran, of Boalsburg; and middle blockers Taylor Myers, of Morrisdale, and Makenna Port, of Bellefonte, took spots on the list.
To be included on the CSC Academic All-District team, women’s volleyball student-athletes were required to meet certain qualification criteria. All nominees must have completed at least one calendar year at their current institution while having cumulative grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher, being key starters or reserves on their team, and having strong athletic accomplishments, statistics and accolades.
All-District student-athletes were nominated by athletics communication professionals who are members of CSC. Nominators could submit up to four deserving student-athletes per team.
Penn State Altoona student-athlete Erin Lutz
Lutz played in all 24 matches during the season with the Penn State Altoona women’s volleyball program. She was a third-team All-Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) selection this year after leading the conference in digs per set (4.24) and ranking second in total digs (390). Lutz also was a Peak Performer on the AMCC’s Academic All-Conference team in her previous season with the Lions, and she earned induction into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society, last year. She will graduate from Penn State Altoona with a degree in kinesiology.
Penn State Altoona student-athlete Kayla Moran
Moran played in all 24 matches — including all 93 sets — for Penn State Altoona in her fourth year with the women’s volleyball team. She was a second-team All-AMCC pick this fall when she led the league in assists per set (8.69) and was second in total assists (808). Moran has been a Peak Performer on the AMCC Academic All-Conference team in each of her three previous seasons, and she was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma last year. She will graduate with a degree in early childhood education.
Penn State Altoona student-athlete Taylor Myers
Myers appeared in all 24 matches during her second season with Penn State Altoona women’s volleyball. Among all AMCC players this fall, she ranked fifth in solo blocks (17), sixth in service aces (37), eighth in total blocks (45), 10th in blocks per set (0.49) and aces per set (0.40), 11th in block assists (28), 12th in total points (217.0), and 15th in points per set (2.4). Last year, Myers was a Peak Performer on the AMCC’s Academic All-Conference team. She is majoring in nursing at Penn State Altoona.
Penn State Altoona student-athlete Makenna Port
Port saw time in all 24 matches in her second season with the Penn State Altoona women’s volleyball team. She finished her season ranking eighth in the AMCC in blocks per set (0.54), 10th in solo blocks (12) and total blocks (40), 11th in block assists (28), and 18th in hitting percentage (.168). Port was a Peak Performer on the AMCC Academic All-Conference team last year, and she is majoring in education at Penn State Altoona.
Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced in early December.
