Former Irvine Valley women's volleyball coach Tom Pestolesi was finally able to meet with and give one of his star players a special award.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pestolesi hadn't been able to arrange a time to see recent IVC graduate Kristin Austin.
Austin was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association Two-Year College First Team All-American after a tremendous 2019 fall campaign.
The two were able to meet earlier this week.
Austin, who signed with NCAA Division I Cal State Fullerton, helped lead Irvine Valley to a 27-1 overall record and a runner-up finish at the California Community College Athletic Association state championship this past season at Southwestern College.
The 5-11 middle blocker was also chosen first team all-state.
Austin led the state in hitting percentage for much of the season. She had a hitting percentage of .500 and averaged 2.97 kills and 0.65 blocks per set during the regular season. And finished with a .468 hitting percentage with 268 kills overall.
She had double-digit kills in IVC's last eight matches of the season. Austin had a season-high 19 kills in a four-set win over Long Beach City on Sept. 11, 2019. And she hit a season-best .667 in a sweep of Santa Ana on Oct. 25.
Austin ended up with the fourth-highest hitting percentage in IVC history (.468).
She was also named co-Most Valuable Player of the Orange Empire Conference with teammate Lea Kruse.
Austin played for two years at IVC both indoors and on the beach. And she helped the Lasers win three conference titles - indoor in 2018 and 2019 and beach in 2019.
Austin was neamed second team all-OEC indoors in 2018 for IVC, hitting .443 and averaging 1.83 kills per set.
