ALTOONA TRIO EARNS ECAC MONTLY HONORS

A trio of Penn State Altoona student-athletes picked up Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) monthly honors for the month of October. Women’s volleyball’s junior libero Erin Lutz was named the ECAC’s Defensive Player of the Month, women's soccer freshman forward Mallorie Smith was named the ECAC Division III South Region Rookie of the Month, and men's soccer freshman Ciaran Corr also earned South Region Rookie of the month honors.

Lutz Takes ECAC DIII South Region Defensive Player of the Month Honors 

Penn State Altoona women’s volleyball’s junior libero Erin Lutz was named the ECAC’s Defensive Player of the Month for October on Friday. 

Lutz anchored the Lions’ defense throughout 12 matches in October, helping Penn State Altoona go 10-2 during the month and propelling her team to a third place finish in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference’s regular season standings. 

Lutz racked up 175 digs in October, averaging 4.73 digs per set. The junior posted double-digit dig totals in seven of the month’s 12 matches, including a season-high 31 digs in a five-set win at non-conference opponent Saint Vincent College. Lutz received two AMCC Defensive Player of the Week awards during October. 

View the ECAC Women’s Volleyball Players of the Month 

Through 20 matches this season, Lutz currently ranks second in the AMCC in digs per set (4.69) and third in total digs (314). 

Penn State Altoona women’s volleyball is 16-4 overall this season, including going 6-2 in the AMCC during the regular season. The Lions earned a berth into the AMCC Tournament, defeating Mount Aloysius College 3-0 in the first round. Penn State Altoona will face Alfred State College this Saturday, November 6 at 4:30 p.m. in the semifinal round of the conference tournament. 

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Smith Selected as ECAC DIII South Region Rookie of the Month 

Penn State Altoona freshman forward Mallorie Smith was chosen as the ECAC’s Division III South Region Rookie of the Month in women’s soccer, the conference announced on Friday. 

Smith’s excellent freshman season continued during the month of October, when she helped lead the Lions to a fourth place finish in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference and a berth into the conference tournament. 

In 10 games for Penn State Altoona in October, Smith recorded nine goals and four assists for a total of 22 points. Three of her goals were game-winners, and she attempted 39 shots, putting 25 of them on goal. The freshman turned in three multi-goal efforts, including her first collegiate hat trick in a win over Penn College on October 6. 

Smith’s performance in October was recognized within the AMCC, as she was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week twice. 

View the ECAC Division III South Region Women’s Soccer Players of the Month 

Smith concluded her freshman season ranking second in the AMCC in game-winning goals (4), fourth in shots (70), fifth in assists (7), and sixth in goals scored (11) and points (29). The freshman started all 18 games for the Lions. 

Penn State Altoona women’s soccer went 8-10 this season, including going 5-3 in the AMCC to finish fourth in the regular season standings. The Lions earned a berth into the AMCC Tournament, where they defeated La Roche in the first round before suffering a loss to Penn State Behrend in the semifinal round. 

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Penn State Altoona freshman forward Ciaran Corr was announced as the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s Division III South Region Rookie of the Month for men’s soccer on Friday. 

Corr continued his standout freshman campaign during the month of October. In eight games for the Lions, the first-year forward scored five goals while attempting 33 shots, putting 12 shots on goal. Two of Corr’s goals last month were game-winners for Penn State Altoona, and he also went 2-for-2 in penalty kicks. 

View the ECAC Men’s Soccer Players of the Month for October 

At the conclusion of his freshman season, Corr ranks second in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in shots attempted (81), third in goals scored (13) and shots on goal (37), fourth in points (29), penalty kicks (2), and game-winning goals (3), and eighth in assists (3). He started all 17 games for Penn State Altoona this season. 

Lions soccer finished its season with a 9-8 overall record, including going 3-5 in the AMCC.