Coming off of a 2020-21 year that saw its regular season canceled due to COVID-19, the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team makes its return to normal intercollegiate action this weekend.

The Lions were selected third in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference's annual preseason poll, and hopes are high for the team this season. In 2019, Penn State Altoona posted a 12-13 overall record and a 7-3 mark in the AMCC, and the program returns four players from that season's roster.

Junior outside hitter Lydia Mock (Alum Bank, PA/Chestnut Ridge) was the AMCC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2019, and she also earned second team all-conference honors. That season, Mock was eighth in the AMCC in digs per set (3.97), ninth in total digs (302), 11th in kills per set (2.42), 12th in points per set (2.9), and 18th in total points (219.0) and total kills (184). Junior setter Kayla Moran (Boalsburg, PA/State College) was 12th in the conference in assists (283) in 2019, as well as ranking 13th in assists per set (3.33). Mock and Moran were both chosen as Players to Watch in the 2021 AMCC preseason poll.

The Lions also return a pair of seniors, middle hitter Alexis Cannistraci (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) and defensive specialist Alison Abrashoff (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York). Cannistraci led the Lions' 2019 squad in solo blocks (14) while finishing second in block assists (37), total blocks (51), and blocks per set (0.63), and Abrashoff brings 13 career matches of experience to the team.

Penn State Altoona also brings back four sophomores who competed during the team's exhibition season last spring: outside hitter/libero Lacee Barnhart (Bellefonte, PA/Bald Eagle), middle blockers Taylor Kilmer (Julian, PA/Bald Eagle) and Grace Shelley (York, PA/York Catholic), and outside/right side hitter Karlie Feathers (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis).

The remainder of the Lions' roster is comprised of first-year players. Junior Erin Lutz (State College, PA/State College) is a transfer to the program after spending her first two years with Division II East Stroudsburg University. Penn State Altoona has also added defensive specialist/liberos Michele Imler (Imler, PA/Claysburg-Kimmel), Anna Batrus (Altoona, PA/Altoona), Allie Godwin (Pittsburgh, PA/West Allegheny), and Kristen Onder (Clarence, PA/Bald Eagle), middle blockers Taylor Myers (Morrisdale, PA/West Branch) and Makenna Port (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte), outside/right side hitter Makenna Bauer (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone), outside hitter/setter Justyne Howell (Hunker, PA/Southmoreland), and setter/defensive specialist Abigail Brinker (Lock Haven, PA/PHAA), all entering their first seasons with the program.

Penn State Altoona women's volleyball gets its 2021 season underway this Saturday, September 4, when the team will compete in the Gettysburg College Battlefield Classic. The Lions' first match of the day is against host Gettysburg at 10:00 a.m., followed by a tilt with Penn State Berks at 12:00 p.m.