Conference USA Announces Spring 2021 Volleyball Schedule

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Conference USA released its updated volleyball league schedule for the spring 2021 season on Friday.

The schedule for the upcoming season will feature the same changes that are in place with conference men's and women's basketball. Each team will host three opponents for a two-match series in back-to-back days, and travel to three different opponents for a two-match series. League matches will begin Sunday, Feb. 7, and be played on Sundays and Mondays.

Marshall opens league play at home against the Charlotte 49ers on Feb. 7-8. The Herd's other home matches will be against WKU (Feb. 28-March 1) and Florida Atlantic (March 14-15). Marshall's road opponents are FIU (Feb. 21-22), Middle Tennessee (March 7-8) and Old Dominion (March 21-22). The Herd will have a bye week Feb. 14-15. The final weekend of the season, March 28-29, are set as open dates for everyone. The Conference Tournament is scheduled for April 1-3, and will be hosted by Southern Miss.

Marshall finished the 2019 season 18-10 and 9-5 in C-USA action under first-year head coach Ari Aganus. Coach Aganus looks to continue the Herd's success in her second season as the team returns six players from 2019 and brings in seven talented newcomers with four freshmen and three transfers.

The top returners for Marshall are redshirt senior Ciara Debell, senior Sydney Lostumo and junior Sarah Schank.

Debell was named to the All-Conference USA First Team after leading the Herd with 422 kills, averaging 4.18 per set which was good for eight-best in team history. The Ocala, Fla., native played in all 101 sets and added 16 service aces, 254 digs (second on the team) and 76 total blocks (third on the team). Debell tallied 10 or more kills in 24 matches and had 20 or more five times. In just two years at Marshall, after spending two years at Florida Gulf Coast, the star outside hitter has totaled 859 kills. After the season, Debell received an opportunity for a tryout with the USA Volleyball Women's National Team.

Lostumo played very well for the Herd in her first season in Huntington after playing 2017-18 at Fresno State. The Gilbert, Ariz., native appeared in 25 matches with 14 starts, totaling 88 sets. Lostumo led the team with 35 service aces and was second with 472 assists as part of a two-setter rotation. She was third in C-USA in aces per set (.40) which also ranked her 54th in the NCAA. Lostumo tallied 10 or more assists in 23 matches, 20 or more 11 times and had 30 or more twice. She had a season-high 37 assists in the Herd's comeback win at FIU. Lostumo added 129 digs as well.

Schank stepped up on the outside last year and responded with a career-best season, starting 20 matches and appearing in 92 sets. The Naperville, Ill., native recorded 235 kills, averaging 2.55 per set. She was also second on the team with a career-best 23 service aces, and third in digs with 212. Schank recorded 10 or more kills in 12 matches and five matches with 10 or more digs. Her best match of the year came in the comeback victory over FIU as Schank tallied 22 kills and 19 digs. She was also honored with the 2019 Conference USA Spirit of Service Award.

For all the latest information about Marshall volleyball, follow @HerdVolleyball on Twitter and Marshall University Volleyball on Facebook.

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Conference USA Announces Spring 2021 Volleyball Schedule

Players Mentioned

Ciara DeBell

Sydney Lostumo

Sarah Schank

Marshall University Athletics