Volleyball Garners Four on All-C-USA Teams and Two Specialty Awards

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Marshall volleyball team received numerous All-Conference USA honors, the league office announced on Wednesday, highlighted by junior Sarah Schank named Libero of the Year and senior Destiny Leon chosen as Defensive Player of the Year.

Redshirt senior Ciara Debell was named First Team All-C-USA for the second consecutive season. Senior Sydney Lostumo, along with Schank and Leon, were all selected Second Team All-C-USA.

"During an unprecedented year filled with continual and ever changing challenges, we have had individuals lead this program both on and off the court," second-year Herd head coach Ari Aganus said. "I could not be more proud of our entire team and all of the hard work they have put in, and continue to put in day in and day out. However, the accolades that Ciara, Destiny, Sarah, and Sydney have earned deserves to be highlighted."

Schank spent her first two seasons at Marshall as an outside hitter, before moving to libero for the first time in her collegiate career this season after the graduation of former libero Amber Weber. Schank stepped into the new role and made an immediate impact. In her very first match at the position, Schank set the program record for most digs in a single match with 40 at Xavier on Jan. 31. The old record of 37 was set by Wendy Williams (1997-00) all the way back on Oct. 9, 1999. Schank continued to thrive throughout the season and led Conference USA in digs per set through the majority of the year. She finished the season with 263 digs, an average of 4.87 per set, good for third-most in a season in team history. On Monday, Schank was also honored on the C-USA All-Academic Team.

"Sarah Schank continues to push the limit of her personal game," coach Aganus said. "She is her toughest critic and I don't believe will ever be satisfied with what she does, in all aspects of life she truly strives for greatness. As a team captain and true leader of this program, she takes any role I throw at her and gives it her absolute best every single day. She is one of the toughest players I have ever had the privilege to coach and I believe she's just getting started.

Leon became a force at the net for the Herd in 2019, averaging 1.30 blocks per set and 130 total. She continued to reject attack attempts at the net in 2021, finishing with 64 in 49 sets, an average of 1.31 per set, good for second in the league and 34th in the NCAA. Leon has tallied at least one block in every match going all the way back to the 2019 season-opener, a streak that stands at 41-straight contests. She has recorded at least two blocks in every match of the 2021 spring season. Leon tallied a season-best nine total blocks against Charlotte on Feb. 8. She also finished the season with 91 kills, 1.86 per set, and an attack percentage of .333. The 6-4 middle blocker set a career-high with 12 kills at Middle Tennessee and added seven blocks for good measure.

"Destiny has had so much growth within the past two years," coach Aganus said. "Blocking is what she does best and even through some setbacks this year, she has proven to be even more of an asset for this program. I am impressed with who she has become as a player and the determination to be her very best has really shown this year. Destiny has and will continue to take this program to new heights."

Debell was named to the Preseason All-Conference team and had another great year for the Herd. Debell started and played all 14 matches and 54 sets. She finished the regular season leading the team with 189 kills, an average of 3.50 per set. Her numbers per set were down a little this season as the team was able to spread the ball around, however her impact and presence was well known by the opponents. The Ocala, Fla., native was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week on March 16 and again March 23, the final two weeks of the regular season for Marshall. Debell achieved career milestones along the way with her 1,000th career kill against Xavier on Feb. 14. She then surpassed 1,000 kills in her Marshall career on March 15. Debell is now ninth all-time in program history with 1,048 kills and second in kills per set with 4.06. The all-around athlete also finished second on the team with 167 digs and third in total blocks with 27.

"Ciara has proven over and over to be an elite volleyball player who will never be done being a student of the game," coach Aganus said. "We have leaned on Ciara the entire year and as our offensive anchor she continues to step up and lead this team to success. Not only does Ciara put up offensive numbers she's a threat at the net, defensively someone we rely on, and takes half of our serve receive assignments; she does it all and continues to get better each day. Ciara is the player, as coaches, we all hope to have the privilege of coaching, I am lucky she bleeds green."

Lostumo stepped into the role of the lone setter for the Herd this season and thrived with Marshall's offense. She started all 14 matches and 54 sets, finishing the regular season with 541 assists, an average of 10.02 per set, good for third in conference and 65th in the NCAA. She tallied 30 or more helpers in 13 matches this season and went over 40 six times. Lostumo put up a career-high 46 in the season-opener at Xavier, and then kept pushing the mark. She recorded 47 in the very next match against Charlotte. However, she went even further by tallying 64 in the five-set win over Xavier at home. The Gilbert, Ariz., native reached 1,000 assists in her collegiate career on Feb. 14 against Xavier, and then hit 1,000 in her Marshall career in the season-finale at Old Dominion. Lostumo also leads the team with 24 aces this season, including six in a sweep of Florida Atlantic tied for fourth-most in a single match in team history. She also added 42 kills, 96 digs and 22 total blocks. Lostumo is a leader on and off the floor for the Herd.

"Sydney has been the anchor and backbone of this program since transferring here my first year," coach Aganus said. "She bought into my system on day one and has helped change the culture and direction of this program. She has become more offensive this year and gained more confidence to run our offense, which has been exciting to be a part of. Sydney's grit is what makes her such an amazing competitor and teammate, I am so proud and happy for her to have this honor, she will take it with humility and continue to grind each and every day."

Marshall is the No. 3 seed in the East Division and will face the UTEP Miners, the No. 2 seed from the West, in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament. First serve is set for Thursday at 3 p.m. eastern, and can be seen on ESPN+.

2021 Spring Conference USA Accolades
Player of the Year
Nicole Lennon, Rice

Setter of the Year
Carly Graham, Rice

Defensive Player of the Year
Destiny Leon, Marshall

Libero of the Year
Sarah Schank, Marshall

Freshman of the Year
Emani' Foster, Charlotte

Coach of the Year
Karen Weatherington, Charlotte

All-Conference First Team
Emani' Foster, Charlotte
Ciara Debell, Marshall
Rhett Robinson, North Texas
Anota Adekunle, Rice
Carly Graham, Rice
Nicole Lennon, Rice
Fernanda Maida, UAB
Cheyenne Jones, UTEP
Lauren Matthews, WKU
Nadia Dieudonne, WKU
Paige Briggs, WKU

All-Conference Second Team
Amani McArthur, Charlotte
Sydney Rowan, Charlotte
Destiny Leon, Marshall
Sarah Schank, Marshall
Sydney Lostumo, Marshall
Alessia Sgherza, Old Dominion
Ellie Bichelmeyer, Rice
Duquesne Moratzka, Southern Miss
Alex Kells, UAB
Serena Patterson, UTEP
Katie Isenbarger, WKU

All-Freshman Team
Emani' Foster, Charlotte
Lara Kretschmer, Charlotte
Amelia Van Der Werff, Middle Tennessee
Teresa Atilano, Old Dominion
Danyle Courtley, Rice
Erin Powers, UAB
Ava Palm, UTEP

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Volleyball Garners Four on All-C-USA Teams and Two Specialty Awards

Players Mentioned

Ciara DeBell

Destiny Leon

Sydney Lostumo

Sarah Schank

Amber Weber

Marshall University Athletics