Marshall University Athletics
Schank Named to Conference USA All-Academic Team
3/30/2021 1:03:00 PM | Volleyball
C-USA leader in digs per set honored for work in the classroom
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall volleyball junior Sarah Schank was named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team, the league office announced on Tuesday.
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Schank is a two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, and is on pace to make it three in-a-row this year, was honored on the All-Academic Team for the first time. Off the court, Schank was also honored with the 2019 C-USA Fall Spirit of Service Award. The junior sports a 3.74 overall grade point average as a Finance major.
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"Sarah continues to lead this program on and off the court," Herd head coach Ari Aganus said. "She is the complete package of what it means to be a student-athlete. This is a testament to who she is as a person and I am so proud of her relentless effort to achieve greatness in all aspects of life. Marshall student-athletes are blessed to have the academic support and it shows with Sarah's recognition."
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The Naperville, Ill., native switched to libero for the first time in her collegiate career this season, as she was an outside hitter her first two years, and made an immediate impact. In Schank's very first match, she broke an almost 22-year old program record with 40 digs at Xavier on Jan. 31. The old mark of 37 was set by Wendy Williams (1997-00) back on Oct. 9, 1999 against Akron.
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From there, Schank continued to be the floor leader for the Herd keeping the squad in defensive rhythm. She appeared and started in all 14 matches, 54 sets, and finished the regular season leading Marshall in digs with 263 and led the conference in digs per set with 4.87 which is also good for 58th in the NCAA. Schank tallied at least 10 digs in every match this spring and recorded 20 or more six times. She also finished second on the team with 32 assists and 16 service aces.
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Schank kept Marshall going through many points and rallies with keys digs to get the ball back to the offense. In the Herd's second match against Xavier, she came through with 27 more digs and three aces in the five-set win. Schank showed her versatility against No. 20 WKU as coach Aganus moved her from libero to outside hitter late in the contest to try and help the offense. Schank finished the match with four kills and still led the team in digs with 23.
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She was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week after the Herd's two sweeps over Florida Atlantic. Schank totaled 31 digs in six sets, an average of 5.17 per set, and added four assists as well as two aces. She recorded the 500th dig of her career at home versus Charlotte on Feb. 8, and now has 691.
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The Marshall Thundering Herd is headed south to Hattiesburg, Miss., for the Conference USA Tournament. The Herd, the No. 3 seed from the East Division, takes on the UTEP Miners, the No. 2 seed from the West, on Thursday April 1 at 3 p.m. eastern, 2 p.m. local time. The match can be seen on ESPN+.
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For all the latest information about Marshall volleyball, follow @HerdVolleyball on Twitter and Marshall University Volleyball on Facebook.
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To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!​
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Schank is a two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, and is on pace to make it three in-a-row this year, was honored on the All-Academic Team for the first time. Off the court, Schank was also honored with the 2019 C-USA Fall Spirit of Service Award. The junior sports a 3.74 overall grade point average as a Finance major.
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"Sarah continues to lead this program on and off the court," Herd head coach Ari Aganus said. "She is the complete package of what it means to be a student-athlete. This is a testament to who she is as a person and I am so proud of her relentless effort to achieve greatness in all aspects of life. Marshall student-athletes are blessed to have the academic support and it shows with Sarah's recognition."
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The Naperville, Ill., native switched to libero for the first time in her collegiate career this season, as she was an outside hitter her first two years, and made an immediate impact. In Schank's very first match, she broke an almost 22-year old program record with 40 digs at Xavier on Jan. 31. The old mark of 37 was set by Wendy Williams (1997-00) back on Oct. 9, 1999 against Akron.
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From there, Schank continued to be the floor leader for the Herd keeping the squad in defensive rhythm. She appeared and started in all 14 matches, 54 sets, and finished the regular season leading Marshall in digs with 263 and led the conference in digs per set with 4.87 which is also good for 58th in the NCAA. Schank tallied at least 10 digs in every match this spring and recorded 20 or more six times. She also finished second on the team with 32 assists and 16 service aces.
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Schank kept Marshall going through many points and rallies with keys digs to get the ball back to the offense. In the Herd's second match against Xavier, she came through with 27 more digs and three aces in the five-set win. Schank showed her versatility against No. 20 WKU as coach Aganus moved her from libero to outside hitter late in the contest to try and help the offense. Schank finished the match with four kills and still led the team in digs with 23.
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She was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week after the Herd's two sweeps over Florida Atlantic. Schank totaled 31 digs in six sets, an average of 5.17 per set, and added four assists as well as two aces. She recorded the 500th dig of her career at home versus Charlotte on Feb. 8, and now has 691.
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The Marshall Thundering Herd is headed south to Hattiesburg, Miss., for the Conference USA Tournament. The Herd, the No. 3 seed from the East Division, takes on the UTEP Miners, the No. 2 seed from the West, on Thursday April 1 at 3 p.m. eastern, 2 p.m. local time. The match can be seen on ESPN+.
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For all the latest information about Marshall volleyball, follow @HerdVolleyball on Twitter and Marshall University Volleyball on Facebook.
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To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!​
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