Three Penn State Altoona student-athletes earn player of the week honors

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Credit: Penn State

NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. — The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference announced Player of the Week honors on Monday, April 8, including three Penn State Altoona student-athletes. Brianna Bone, of Morrisdale, was named pitcher of the week in women’s softball; men’s volleyball outside hitter Avery Farabaugh, of Ebensburg, was named Offensive Player of the Week; and Casey Hess, of Annville, was named Player of the Week in men’s tennis.

Bone pitched a complete game shutout on Sunday afternoon to help the Penn State Altoona softball team sweep Alfred State College in the teams’ first AMCC doubleheader of the season.

Bone got the start in the pitching circle for game two of the Lions’ doubleheader with Alfred State on Sunday, April 7, where she picked up her first win of the season and first NCAA win by tossing a complete game shutout. Bone pitched five shutout innings, yielding only two hits, issuing no walks, and striking out three batters.

Penn State Altoona won game two 9-0, after prevailing 11-3 in the first game of the doubleheader.

Bone is 1-2 this season with a 4.24 earned run average in 33 innings of work. She has made six starts and eight total appearances in the circle.

Penn State Altoona softball is 9-8 overall, including 2-0 in the AMCC. The Lions travel for their next games, as the team will hit the road to face conference opponent Carlow University on Tuesday, April 9, for a doubleheader beginning at 7 p.m.

Farabaugh helped lead the Penn State Altoona men’s volleyball team to a trio of 3-0 sweeps last week, as the Lions defeated AMCC opponents Mount Aloysius College and Penn State Behrend and nonconference foe Bethany College.

In Wednesday night’s 3-0 sweep on the road against Mount Aloysius, Farabaugh totaled 11 points on seven kills, two service aces, two block assists, and a solo block. The Lions posted two more sweeps in a home tri-match with Penn State Behrend and Bethany on Saturday. Against Behrend, Farabaugh finished with 16.5 points on 14 kills, one ace, one solo block, and one block assist. Versus Bethany, he had five points on four kills and one ace while playing in just one set.

On the week, Farabaugh recorded 32.5 points (4.6 points per set), 25 kills (3.57 kills per set), five total blocks (0.71 blocks per set), and four aces (0.57 aces per set). He also compiled a .213 attack percentage.

In the AMCC this season, Farabaugh currently ranks second in points (411.5), points per set (4.5), kills (341), and kills per set (3.75). This is his fourth AMCC Player of the Week award this season.

Penn State Altoona men’s volleyball is 15-11 overall this season, including 5-4 in the AMCC. The Lions earned the No. 4 seed in the AMCC Tournament and will host fifth-seeded Penn State Behrend in a first-round match on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Adler Arena.

Hess compiled a perfect 3-0 record in both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles last week, helping the Lions to home wins over nonconference opponents Westminster College and Waynesburg University and AMCC foe Pitt-Greensburg.

In Penn State Altoona’s 6-3 victory over Westminster last Tuesday, April 2, Hess bested his opponent in No. 1 singles, winning 6-0, 6-0, while partnering with Andrew Chronister, of York, for an 8-1 victory in No. 1 doubles.

Hess followed that up with two more wins in the Lions’ 9-0 win over Waynesburg on Thursday, April 4. He earned a 6-3, 6-3 victory in No. 1 singles while putting together an 8-3 triumph alongside Chronister in their No. 1 doubles match.

Hess finished his week strong in Penn State Altoona’s 9-0 shutout of conference foe Pitt-Greensburg on Saturday, April 6. He posted a 6-0, 6-1 decision over his opponent in No. 1 singles and also claimed victory with Chronister in No. 1 doubles, where the duo won 8-0.

Hess holds a 7-2 overall record in No. 1 singles matches this season, including being 3-0 in the AMCC. In doubles play, Hess and Chronister have compiled a perfect 9-0 overall record in No. 1 doubles matches, being 3-0 against conference opponents.

Penn State Altoona men’s tennis is 6-3 overall this season, including 3-0 within the AMCC. The Lions, who are currently riding a six-match winning streak, will travel to face nonconference opponent Geneva College on Tuesday, April 9, at 1 p.m.

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