WINONA, Minn. — To be a two-sport athlete at the collegiate level takes a special individual.
 
To be considered among the best in the nation in two sports takes an extra-special individual.
 
And after the seasons that Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) and Bob Kinne (St. Paul, Minn.) put together a year ago, it's safe to say the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota duo are certainly extra-special.
 
Blattner, a member of both the Cardinal volleyball and women's basketball teams, earned hauled in a combined five post-season awards a year ago—highlighted by American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Second-Team All-American honors—while Kinne was a First-Team All-MIAC pick in both men's hockey and baseball, and also earned American Baseball Coaches Association Third-Team All-Region honors.
 
Friday evening, Blattner and Kinne were once again in the awards spotlight, being named Saint Mary's Outstanding Female and Male Athletes during the Cardinal 'M' Club Sports Hall of Fame and Awards Ceremony.
 
Emily Loof (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Brett Giesen (Cato, Wis.), meanwhile, were selected Saint Mary's Outstanding Female and Male Scholar Athletes—for the third year in a row.

Friday's festivities also included the induction of three new members into the Saint Mary's Sports Hall of Fame, as the Cardinal 'M' Club, in association with the Saint Mary's Alumni Office, welcomed the Class of 2017— Mark Zaremba '78 (baseball), Amanda Weinmann '07 (track and field), and Ashley Luehmann '07 (women's basketball/track and field) | Hall Release
 
SAINT MARY'S OUTSTANDING FEMALE ATHLETE:
After a stellar freshman campaign, Blattner picked up right where she left off during her sophomore season as a member of the Cardinal volleyball and women's basketball teams. Blattner helped the Cardinal volleyball team to a 23-5 overall record and a third straight MIAC Playoff appearance, leading the team—and the conference—in kills and kills-per-set. The outside hitter racked up three impressive post-season honors—First-Team All-MIAC, First-Team AVCA All-Region, and Second-Team AVCA All-American. On the basketball court, Blattner closed out her season as the Cardinals' offensive leader—not to mention one of the top scorers and rebounders in the conference. Blattner started all 25 games for the Cardinals, averaging 14.4 points-per-game and 9.8 rebounds-per-game, earning her First-Team All-MIAC and Third-Team D3hoops.com All-Region honors.
 
SAINT MARY'S OUTSTANDING MALE ATHLETE:
A mainstay for Saint Mary's during his collegiate career, Kinne enjoyed a season to remember in 2017, earning post-season honors in both hockey and baseball. Kinne helped the Cardinal men's hockey team to a third-place regular-season finish and a berth in the MIAC Playoff semifinals. A First-Team All-MIAC pick for the third consecutive year, Kinne netted a team- and career-high 14 goals, collected 10 assists and finished with 24 points—marking the third time in as many years he eclipsed the 20-point barrier. And it was more of the same on the baseball diamond, as Kinne earned his second consecutive First-Team All-MIAC and Third-Team ABCA/Rawlings All-Region honors. Kinne hit .353, delivered 29 RBIs and was a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen bases, while lead the team with 17 multiple-hit games and sharing the team lead in multiple-RBI games with eight.
 
SAINT MARY'S OUTSTANDING FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE
A Literature/Public Relations major with a 3.98 grade-point-average, Loof has been a mainstay on the Saint Mary's women's soccer team. She appeared in 17 games for the Cardinals in 2016, sharing the team lead in goals with three, while finishing second on the team with six points. An honorable-mention All-MIAC selection in 2014, Loof has earned Academic All-MIAC honors each of the last two seasons.
 
SAINT MARY'S OUTSTANDING MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE
A Psychology major with a 3.92 GPA, Giesen enjoyed a stellar junior campaign as a member of the Saint Mary's men's tennis team in 2017, recording eight singles wins—all at No. 2. Giesen has earned Academic All-MIAC honors each of his last two seasons.