Sand, Ebangwese Honored by ECAC

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior libero Belle Sand of the Syracuse women's volleyball team was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Defensive Player of the Year, the organization announced Thursday. Junior middle blocker Santita Ebangwese was selected to the All-ECAC Second Team.

Sand compiled a team-high 495 digs on the year. Her 4.50 digs per set ranked second in the ACC. Sand ranks third all-time in program history with 1,548 career digs and 3.78 digs per set. She has appeared in 31 matches this season and 110 sets.

In a five-set victory over Notre Dame on Nov. 22, Sand totaled a career-high 29 digs. She followed up that performance with 27 digs on senior day versus Louisville on Nov. 24.

Ebangwese led the ACC with a .386 hitting percentage during the regular season. She finished with a team-high 151 blocks and ranked second with 298 kills. Ebangwese played a major role in the Orange blocking game that ranked third in the ACC with 2.72 blocks per set. She started all 33 matches and is the only 'Cuse member to play in every set this season.

On Sep. 8, Ebangwese set a single-match program record .739 hitting percentage (minimum 20 attempts). On 23 attacks, she compiled 18 kills with one error to lead the Orange past Dartmouth.

Syracuse takes on Albany in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship at Colgate on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m.

ECAC Division I Women's Volleyball Awards and All-ECAC Selections

Offensive Player of the Year
Julia Cast – St. John's University

Defensive Player of the Year
Belle Sand – Syracuse University

Rookie of the Year
Alli Lowe – Colgate University

Coach of the Year
Linda Sagnelli– Central Connecticut State University

All-ECAC First Team
Claire Archibald – Iona College
Viktoria Fink – Long Island University- Brooklyn
Khaila Donaldson – Howard University
Julia Cast – St. John's University
Alli Lowe – Colgate University
Veronica Koval – Rider University
Natalia Rivera -- Long Island University- Brooklyn

All-ECAC Second Team
Kennedi Smith – University of New Hampshire
Allie Loitz – Villanova University
Santita Ebangwese – Syracuse University
Nina Petranovic – Long Island University- Brooklyn
Allison Fitzgerald – Villanova University
Julymar Otero – Towson University
Emma Aldaya – Rider University

For all of the latest information on Syracuse volleyball, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & CuseVB), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseVB), and Instagram (@cusepics & @cusevb).

Syracuse University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Santita Ebangwese

Belle Sand

Related Videos