Debell Named AVCA All-South Region for Second Time

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall volleyball redshirt senior outside hitter Ciara Debell was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-South Region Team, the organization announced Tuesday.

AVCA All-Region teams are broken down into 10 regions with 14 players named on each and a few more additional names for each region as Honorable Mention. Debell has been honored in back-to-back seasons and is the first All-Region repeat selection at Marshall since Hall of Famer Kelly-Anne Billingy in 2004-07. Laura Der (2010-13) was selected two times as Honorable Mention in 2012-13.

"In a year with so many unknowns the one thing that has remained a constant is Ciara's ability to lead this program and bring her personal career to new heights," Herd head coach Ari Aganus said. "I am so proud of Ciara for earning this accolade. It is a huge testament to her teammates and all of the hard work they put in, day in and day out."

Marshall was all ready to get rolling in the fall when Conference USA decided to postpone all 2020 fall Olympic sports until the spring, and play a shortened schedule. The past two seasons (2018-19) the Herd played in 28 matches, this season it was just 15 contests. Despite waiting a few more months, and a shorter season, Debell still made her presence known.

The Ocala, Fla., native was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week twice and was selected to the First Team All-C-USA as voted on by the league's coaches. She was also named a Senior CLASS Award Candidate on March 2.

For the third consecutive season, Debell led Marshall in kills with 201, an average of 3.53 per set. The all-around performer was also second on the team in digs with 171, 3.00 per set, and third in total blocks with 27. She tallied 221.0 points and averaged 3.88 points per set as the Herd finished the shortened spring season 10-5, earning the No. 3 seed in the East Division. Debell recorded 10 or more kills in 13 matches. She had double-digit digs 10 times and tallied eight double-doubles during the year between kills and digs.

Debell was first named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week on March 16 after totaling 27 kills, 4.50 per set, hit .329, 19 digs, 3.17 per set and two aces in two sweeps over Florida Atlantic. In the first match she played the first two sets without an error, and finished with 13 kills and nine digs. In the second meeting she recorded 14 kills with a .394 attack percentage and had just one error in 33 attacks.

Debell was honored with the weekly award the very next week, March 23, after two more wins at Old Dominion to finish the regular season. She totaled 36 kills, 4.50 per set, and hit at a .346 clip. Debell also added 18 digs and five total blocks. She hit a season-high 23 kills in the first match and was a perfect 35-for-35 on receptions. In the second meeting with the Monarchs, Debell finished with 13 kills and hit .458.

Debell achieved two career milestones in the 2021 Spring season. She reached 1,000 kills in her collegiate career at home against Xavier (Feb. 14) in the fifth set. She then reached 1,000 kills in her Marshall career on March 15, once again at home, against Florida Atlantic in the first set. Debell now has 1,060 in her Marshall career and 1,146 overall as she had 86 during her time at Florida Gulf Coast before transferring to Huntington before the 2018 season.

In her three seasons with the Herd, Debell is second all-time in kills per set with 4.06, and trails only Billingy (5.15). She is ninth all-time in career kills after surpassing Juanita Venable (1995-98) and then Elizabeth Herman (2007-10) this season. Debell also ranks eighth all-time at Marshall with 3,059 total attacks and her career .235 hitting percentage is 10th.

Debell will also return for the 2021 fall season along with fellow seniors Sydney Lostumo and Destiny Leon. Athletes from fall sports were granted another season of eligibility due to playing the shortened season. Another chance for the outside hitter to continue to add more personal achievements and help lead Marshall reach new heights.

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Debell Named AVCA All-South Region for Second Time

Players Mentioned

Ciara DeBell

Destiny Leon

Sydney Lostumo

Marshall University Athletics