Ebangwese Named to Preseason All-ACC Team
8/3/2018 2:00:00 PM | Volleyball
2017 AVCA Regional All-American Santita Ebangwese has been named to the Preseason All-ACC team for the second-straight season. Following a First Team All-ACC campaign last season, Ebangwese is one of 18 players from 10 different schools named to the list.
Last season Ebangwese also earned All-ECAC Second Team and All-ACC Academic Team honors. Ebangwese led the ACC during the regular season with a .386 hitting percentage and finished with a team-high 151 blocks. She was an integral part of the Orange's blocking game that ranked third in the ACC with 2.72 blocks per set and out-blocked opponents in 34 of 36 matches.
In 2017 the ACC set a league record with six teams earning NCAA Tournament bids while Syracuse made its postseason debut in the National Invitational Volleyball Championships (NIVC). The Orange advanced to the NIVC quarterfinals before dropping a 0-3 match at West Virginia and concluding the season with a 22-14 record. Syracuse battled through a tough ACC schedule to finish 12-8 in conference play. Along with Ebangwese, freshman Ella Saada earned ACC honors with a selection to the All-Freshman Team.
Syracuse was picked to finish ninth for the upcoming 2018 campaign with 11 points separating sixth and ninth place. Pittsburgh was voted to win the conference with 14 first-place votes while Louisville picked up the other first place vote.
The Orange return 12 of 14 players from last season, including six starters, and welcome four newcomers to the roster. Syracuse is slated to open its season Aug. 31 at the UConn Invitational against New Hampshire.
Preseason All-ACC Team
Santita Ebangwese, Sr., MB, Syracuse
Kaylin Korte, Sr., OH/RS, Clemson
Leah Meyer, Jr., MB, Duke
Payton Caffrey, Jr., OH, Florida State
Taryn Knuth, So., MB, Florida State
Jasmine Bennett, Sr., MB, Louisville
Melanie McHenry, Jr., OH, Louisville
Wilma Rivera, Sr., S, Louisville
Molly Sauer, Sr., L, Louisville
Haley Templeton, R-Sr., S, Miami
Melissa Evans, So., OPP, NC State
Kylie Pickrell, Sr., S, NC State
Ryann DeJarld, Sr., L, Notre Dame
Jemma Yeadon, Jr., OH, Notre Dame
Kamalani Akeo, Sr., S, Pitt
Nika Markovic, Jr., RS, Pitt
Stephanie Williams, R-Jr., OH, Pitt
Jalia Tolbert, Sr., RS, Virginia Tech
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Pitt (196 points, 14 first-place votes)
2. Louisville (180 points, 1 first-place vote)
3. Florida State (171)
4. Notre Dame (137)
5. Duke (134)
6. North Carolina (121)
7. Miami (117)
NC State (117)
9. Syracuse (110)
10. Georgia Tech (68)
11. Virginia Tech (55)
12. Clemson (54)
13. Wake Forest (51)
14. Virginia (37)
15. Boston College (27)
Last season Ebangwese also earned All-ECAC Second Team and All-ACC Academic Team honors. Ebangwese led the ACC during the regular season with a .386 hitting percentage and finished with a team-high 151 blocks. She was an integral part of the Orange's blocking game that ranked third in the ACC with 2.72 blocks per set and out-blocked opponents in 34 of 36 matches.
In 2017 the ACC set a league record with six teams earning NCAA Tournament bids while Syracuse made its postseason debut in the National Invitational Volleyball Championships (NIVC). The Orange advanced to the NIVC quarterfinals before dropping a 0-3 match at West Virginia and concluding the season with a 22-14 record. Syracuse battled through a tough ACC schedule to finish 12-8 in conference play. Along with Ebangwese, freshman Ella Saada earned ACC honors with a selection to the All-Freshman Team.
Syracuse was picked to finish ninth for the upcoming 2018 campaign with 11 points separating sixth and ninth place. Pittsburgh was voted to win the conference with 14 first-place votes while Louisville picked up the other first place vote.
The Orange return 12 of 14 players from last season, including six starters, and welcome four newcomers to the roster. Syracuse is slated to open its season Aug. 31 at the UConn Invitational against New Hampshire.
Preseason All-ACC Team
Santita Ebangwese, Sr., MB, Syracuse
Kaylin Korte, Sr., OH/RS, Clemson
Leah Meyer, Jr., MB, Duke
Payton Caffrey, Jr., OH, Florida State
Taryn Knuth, So., MB, Florida State
Jasmine Bennett, Sr., MB, Louisville
Melanie McHenry, Jr., OH, Louisville
Wilma Rivera, Sr., S, Louisville
Molly Sauer, Sr., L, Louisville
Haley Templeton, R-Sr., S, Miami
Melissa Evans, So., OPP, NC State
Kylie Pickrell, Sr., S, NC State
Ryann DeJarld, Sr., L, Notre Dame
Jemma Yeadon, Jr., OH, Notre Dame
Kamalani Akeo, Sr., S, Pitt
Nika Markovic, Jr., RS, Pitt
Stephanie Williams, R-Jr., OH, Pitt
Jalia Tolbert, Sr., RS, Virginia Tech
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Pitt (196 points, 14 first-place votes)
2. Louisville (180 points, 1 first-place vote)
3. Florida State (171)
4. Notre Dame (137)
5. Duke (134)
6. North Carolina (121)
7. Miami (117)
NC State (117)
9. Syracuse (110)
10. Georgia Tech (68)
11. Virginia Tech (55)
12. Clemson (54)
13. Wake Forest (51)
14. Virginia (37)
15. Boston College (27)
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
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