ALTOONA, Pa. - At halftime of Wednesday night's men's basketball game in the Adler Arena, members of the 2017 Penn State Altoona men's volleyball team were recognized for their excellent season this past spring.

The Lions posted their most successful season in program history during 2017. The team compiled a 26-7 overall record, including a 15-1 record in the North Eastern Athletic Conference, which is the squad's primary conference. Penn State Altoona won its first NEAC championship, and it also earned its first championship in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, which is the team's secondary conference. The Lions capped their 2017 season by picking up their first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament berth.

During a halftime ceremony on Wednesday evening, Lions head coach Phil Peterman and his 2017 roster of student-athletes were presented with NEAC championship rings to commemorate their conference title win.

Additionally, the 2017 Penn State Altoona men's volleyball team was presented with two other awards to recognize statistical achievements on a national level. The team's libero, Wally Rivera-Berrios, led all NCAA Division III players in digs per set during the 2017 campaign, and he was presented with the NCAA's statistical champion award for ranking first in that category. The Lions also led all NCAA Division III teams in digs per set last year, ranking first with an average of 12.75 digs per set, and the team was presented with that NCAA award.

Penn State Altoona men's volleyball opens its season on Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20, when it will compete against a total of four teams in a two-day invitational at Misericordia University.