Recently, several athletes from local schools were recognized for their outstanding performances in their respective sports. Morgan Sarver, a sophomore forward for Slippery Rock University and a graduate of Altoona Area High School, was named to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference women’s soccer all-conference team. She earned a spot on the PSAC Western Division Second Team, starting in all 18 of her appearances and finishing third in the PSAC in shots and fourth in shots on goal. With six goals and nine assists for the Rock, Sarver tied for second place in team offensive points at 21. The Rock ended the season with a record of 12-4-3 overall.

Meanwhile, five members of the Penn State Altoona women’s volleyball program picked up postseason honors from the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Head coach Jamie McGreal was voted the coach of the year, while freshman outside hitter Lia Simanski, a Bishop Guilfoyle High School graduate, was selected as the newcomer of the year. Penn State Altoona also got four student-athletes on the all-conference list: junior libero Anna Batrus, an Altoona Area High School grad; senior outside hitter Lacee Barnhart; Simanski; and junior middle Makenna Port earned third-team recognition. McGreal led the Lady Lions to their third-ever conference championship.

Simanski ranked among the top 10 players in kills per set (2.77), kills (263), points (293), points per set (3.1), and digs (328) in the AMCC this season. Meanwhile, Batrus took over as starting libero and anchored her team’s defense while playing in all 26 matches during her first season at Penn State Altoona. She led the AMCC this season with an impressive average of 5.55 digs per set and finished second overall with 533 total digs.