Lady Lions give awards at annual team banquet
The Penn State women's basketball team held its annual awards banquet Sunday at the Penn Stater Hotel, honoring both players and those special to the program.
Three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Tanisha Wright won the Joanie O'Brien Team MVP Award. Wright, a two-time All-Big Ten pick, recently became the first Lady Lion ever to be selected in the first round of the WNBA draft when the Seattle Storm made the 5-foot-11 senior guard its No. 1 selection with the 12th overall pick. Wright finished her career with 1,995 points, which ranks fourth all-time in Lady Lion history.
Jennifer Brenden won three awards at the banquet, beginning with the Robin Lombard Award, given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of Lady Lion basketball. Brenden then snagged two academic honors -- the Academic Achievement Award, given to the Lady Lion with the highest GPA, and the Nittany Lion Club Award, given to the graduating senior with the highest GPA.
Senior forward/center Ashli Schwab won the Jeanette Goss Courage Award in recognition of outstanding courage in overcoming adversity.
The Tom Caldwell Award in recognition of the "unsung hero" on the team went to senior point guard Jess Strom. Strom led the team with 4.7 assists per game, and also ranked second with 15.6 points per game.
Eight volleyball players earn postseason honors
Junior men's volleyball player Matt Proper was named the Uvaldo Acosta Memorial EIVA Player of the Year as seven other Nittany Lions earned postseason honors from the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.
Head coach Mark Pavlik was tabbed as the EIVA Coach of the Year, his fourth such honor in his 11 years at the helm of the Nittany Lion program.
In addition to Proper, senior middle hitter Keith Kowal, junior middle hitter Nate Meerstein, junior setter Dan O'Dell and freshman libero Gary Vogel all earned First Team All-EIVA honors. Sophomore outside hitters Aaron Smith and Alex Gutor were awarded second-team All-EIVA accolades.
