Cross, Mack Headline PSUAC Volleyball All-Conference Teams
By Connor McNeill
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State University Athletic Conference has announced its 2024 Volleyball All-Conference teams and award winners. Nearly 40 student-athletes and coaches earned recognition for their regular season accomplishments.
Penn State Hazleton’s Sydney Mack, the reigning East Division Player of the Year, earned the honor once again after finishing first in the PSUAC in kills and first in kills per set. Her counterpart in the West Division, Cyra Cross from Penn State Shenango, earned her first Player of the Year recognition after finishing second in the PSUAC in kills, and finishing fifth in digs. Cross was also able to take home PSUAC West Division Rookie of the Year.
Joining Mack at the top of the East Division awards was teammate Nora Jones, who was named the East Division Specialist of the Year. Jones finished second in the PSUAC in digs, primarily serving as the team’s libero. Penn State’s New Kensington’s Kayla Carnahan was named West Division Specialist of the Year. Carnahan led the PSUAC in digs with 459, while also excelling in her defensive specialist role.
Rounding out the PSUAC specialty awards, Ryliegh Sinko of Penn State Schuylkill has been awarded PSUAC East Division Rookie of the Year. As a First-Year student, Sinko ended up leading her team in digs, digs per set, and assists per set.
Hazleton’s Noel Kaufman was named Coach of the Year after leading Hazleton to an impressive season. This is Kaufman’s first time winning the award, marking a significant milestone in her coaching career. Under Kaufman’s leadership, Hazleton’s program has experienced a remarkable turnaround. Kaufman has brought this Hazelton team which was second to last in the conference her first season coaching, all the way to first in their conference, in just the short span of 4 years. Her exceptional leadership and strategic insight guided Hazleton to a dominant season, leading them to an overall 13-9 season, while being 9-1 during conference play.
To see the full list of conference awards, click on the link below. These All-Conference awards are determined by coaches and administrators, who review nominations submitted by each campus. The selections are based exclusively on regular season performance.