Sarah Szybist named Liberty League Volleyball Player of the Year

2016 Nov 10

Senior outside hitter Sarah Szybist (Colorado Springs, CO/Ramstein) was named the 2016 Liberty League Volleyball Player of the Year, as the conference announced its award winners on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Szybist became RIT's first Liberty League Player of the Year. She is 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.

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.

Szybist enjoyed a tremendous senior season for the Tigers in 2016. She leads all of Division III with 770 kills. 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.

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 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 Rookie of the Year. RIT finished the year with a 21-18 record, advancing to the Liberty League Tournament for the fifth time in six seasons.