Sarah Szybist earns 2016 AVCA Second Team All-America selection

2016 Nov 23

Senior outside hitter Sarah Szybist (Colorado Springs, CO/Ramstein) of the RIT volleyball team was named a 2016 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Second Team All-America selection on Wednesday, Nov. 16. It is the fourth consecutive season she has earned All-America honors, garnering third team plaudits in 2014 and honorable mention accolades in 2013 and 2015.

Last week, Szybist was an AVCA All-New York Region selection for the fourth straight season. On Nov. 9, Szybist was named the 2016 Liberty League Player of the Year. She became RIT's first student-athlete to earn conference player of the year accolades since Christina Anabel was named the Empire 8 Player of the Year in 2005. Szybist is RIT's first second team All-American since RIT Athletics Hall of Famer Ushi Patel in 1999.

In addition to earning Player of the Year honors, Szybist was a 2016 All-Liberty League first team selection for the fourth consecutive season. Earlier in the month, she earned CoSIDA Academic All-Region honors for the third straight season.

"Sarah is very deserving of this honor," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "She made a commitment throughout her career to continue to grow as a player. It's obvious to many that she is a great attacker. I'm more proud that she became a complete player. The improvements she made in her defense, serve reception and leadership were integral to our team and her individual success."

Szybist enjoyed a tremendous senior season for the Tigers in 2016. She led all of Division III with 770 kills, which is an NCAA single-season record, since the 25-point scoring format was adopted in 2008. Overall, Szybist's 770 kills are the most in a season by any individual since 2006. In addition, she is second nationally with 5.07 kills per set and 5.69 points per set. Szybist was second on the team with 437 digs and led the way with 69 blocks.

On Oct. 15, Szybist was named the RIT Invitational Most Valuable Player for the fourth straight season. Earlier in the year, she earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Springfield Tournament, Marcia French Invitational, Fredonia Blue Devil Invitational, and New York State Regional Challenge.

A four-time Liberty League Performer of the Week and two-time RIT Female Athlete of the Week, Szybist has recorded 30 kills in a match four times, including a season-best 37 in a five-set win over Mount Union. She recorded at least 10 kills in 38 of 39 matches this season and 135 of her 147 career contests.

Szybist finished her RIT career with a program record 2,563 kills, which is also sixth all-time in Division III Volleyball history. Szybist also recorded 2,878 overall points, 1,132 career digs, 252 blocks, and 157 service aces in 147 matches. She was a 13-time Liberty League Performer of the Week and the 2013 Liberty League, ECAC and AVCA New York Region Rookie of the Year.

In addition, Szybist is the university's all-time record holder with 48 matches with at least 20 kills, 4.79 kills per set and 5.38 points per set. Her 4.79 kills per set is tied for tenth best in NCAA Division III history.

A standout in the classroom, Szybist boasts a 3.94 grade-point average as a biomedical sciences major.

"The lessons Sarah learned and applied as a volleyball player will continue to benefit her in all future endeavors," said Lodes. "She is an excellent representative of our program."

RIT finished the 2016 season with a 21-18 record and advanced to the Liberty League Tournament.