Former Pitt volleyball and basketball player Monica Wignot dies in car crash – CBS Pittsburgh

By: Patrick Damp/KDKA-TV

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The University of Pittsburgh athletic department shared the tragic news Sunday that a former women’s volleyball and basketball star died in a car accident.

CONTINUE READING: Higher gas prices make delivery and ride-sharing services more difficult

Monica Wignot, a native of Wilkes-Barre, died in the crash on Friday.

She was 29 years old.

“Monica Wignot embodied the student-athlete ideal at Pitt,” said athletics director Heather Lyke. “She has excelled in not one, but two sports at the Division I level, which reflects both her tremendous talent and dedication. That same dedication was evident in her academic pursuits as she earned three degrees from the University of Pittsburgh.”

CONTINUE READING: ‘It’s a completely different landscape’: UPMC researcher shows cautious optimism about COVID-19 pandemic

Wignot earned a dual bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology in 2014 and her master’s degree in social work in 2016.

She played volleyball for four years and basketball for one season, receiving honors in both.

She was recognized by All-Big East for volleyball and second-most single-season blocks in Pitt basketball history.

“Monica was an amazing athlete, a loyal teammate and a good person,” said volleyball head coach Dan Fisher. “She was on my first team at Pitt in 2013 and at the end of that year she became the best player on our court. She was instrumental in transforming this program and I wish I could have coached her longer.”

MORE NEWS: Man dies while being held in police custody in New Castle

Wignot is survived by her parents, Thomas and Terese, and three siblings – Stephen, Owen and Julia.