Women's Volleyball | 11/10/2014 11:21:00 AM
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ROCHESTER, NY – Four members of the RIT volleyball team earned 2014 All-Liberty League Postseason honors Monday, as announced by the league. Sophomore outside hitter
Sarah Szybist (Chicago, IL/Ramstein) was a first team selection, while senior libero
Bethany Davis (Blasdell, NY/Frontier) and sophomore setter
Emma Dowdy (Cocoa, FL/Edgewood) were second team picks. Junior outside hitter
Laiz Novaes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Centro Educational) garnered honorable mention accolades.
Szybist was named an All-Liberty League first team selection for the second straight season. The 2013 Rookie of the Year enjoyed another tremendous season for the Tigers, leading all of Division III with 709 kills. Her 709 kills are second most in one season all-time at RIT, and she is second nationally with 5.76 points per set and third with 5.10 kills per set. Szybist is second on the team with 292 digs, 65 blocks, and 52 service aces.
On Oct. 17, Szybist became the 14th player in program history to surpass 1,000 kills in a win over Vassar. She currently has 1,299 for her career, eighth most in program history. She has recorded at least 10 kills in a match 37 times and slammed 20 kills 16 times, both of which are RIT single-season records. On Nov. 7, she was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District III team.
Davis earned All-League honors for the first time in her collegiate career. A two-year captain, Davis led the team with 537 digs, finishing fifth in the conference with 3.86 digs per set, while playing in all 39 matches and 139 of 140 sets. In addition, Davis finished her RIT career as the university's all-time leader with 2,171 digs. A model of consistency, Davis had 545, 549, 540, and 537 digs in her four seasons as a Tiger. She recorded a season-best 30 digs against Montclair State on Oct. 31.
Dowdy enjoyed a strong season for the Tigers, finishing second in the conference, averaging 7.84 assists per set. A first time All-League selection, Dowdy dished out a team-best 831 assists, including a career-high 52 against Skidmore on Oct. 25. In addition, Dowdy chipped in with 183 digs, 83 kills, 29 blocks, and 21 service aces, while playing in 32 matches.
Novaes made a big difference in her first season with RIT in 2014, emerging as a strong hitter, while serving as a setter, and defensive star. Novaes was second on the team with 402 assists and third with 179 kills to go along with 265 digs, 38 service aces, and 25 blocks. On Oct. 25, Novaes recorded a triple-double with 16 assists, 14 kills, and 14 digs against Union. Novaes had at least 10 kills in a match seven times and tallied double figures in digs 10 times.
RIT advanced to the Liberty League Championship match, finishing as the runner-up. The Tigers finished the 2014 season with a 22-17 record.
