STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 13, 2001 - Senior men's lacrosse player Matt Vallone (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) is one of 31 players and the only Nittany Lion to be named to the 2001 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Scholar All-America Team. The USILA Scholar All-America team recognizes student-athletes who have excelled academically, athletically and as citizens in their respective communities.

Vallone was the Lions' full-time goalie this season who was selected to play in the annual North-South All-Star Classic which was played on June 8 in Troy, N.Y. Penn State's team Most Valuable Player this past season and a member of the Dean's list, the biology/pre-physical therapy major was also an ECAC All-Academic team member. He ends his career with a .590 save percentage and 290 saves.

Athletes named to the USILA Scholar All-American team must be seniors with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and must be a member of the All-America team or North-South teams. All nominees must be of strong character and have conducted themselves on and off the field in a manner that has brought credit to himself, his institution and to the sport of collegiate lacrosse.