Women's Volleyball | 12/9/2014 12:44:00 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY – Senior Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and sophomore Sarah Szybist (Chicago, IL/Ramstein) of the RIT volleyball team were named 2014 CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-Americans. Wheeler earned second team honors, while Szybist was a third team selection. They are the sixth and seventh players in RIT volleyball history to receive this prestigious honor.
 
Wheeler, who was previously named to the 2012-13 Co-SIDA/Capital One Academic All-District III Team as a member of the women's basketball team, has a 4.0 grade-point average as a biomedical engineering major. Wheeler enjoyed a strong season with the volleyball squad, leading the team with 97 blocks (0.84/set), while chipping in with 76 kills from her middle blocker position.
 
On the basketball court, Wheeler was named to the 2013 Allstate Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Good Works Team. The award recognizes a unique group of women's college basketball student-athletes who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement. Wheeler was one of five student-athletes chosen among applicants from Division II, III and NAIA institutions.
 
Last month, Szybist , who has a 4.0 grade-point average in biomedical sciences, was named a 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Third Team All-American. She also earned CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-Region honors, All-AVCA New York Region, and All-Liberty League first team accolades in addition to Liberty League All-Academic Team plaudits. Szybist was MVP of the RIT Invitational, was a Liberty League Championship All-Tournament Team pick, and garnered All-Tournament Team honors at the Nazareth Golden Flyer Invitational, Canton Classic, and Fredonia Blue Invitational this season. She was also a four-time Liberty League Player of the Week and three-time ECAC Upstate Player of the Week this season.
 
Szybist, a 2013 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, 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. She was also the 2013 AVCA New York Region, Liberty League, and ECAC Rookie of the Year.
 
"We're really proud of Sarah and Kayla becoming Academic All-Americans," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "Their ability to flourish both on the court and in the classroom exemplifies what it is to be a true student-athlete. This honor is well deserved and rewards the commitment they each have made to being successful."
 
RIT finished 22-17 and advanced to the Liberty League Championship match in 2014.
 
RIT CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-Americans
1992   Kris Gray
1993   Kris Gray, 2nd Team
           Liang Gaik Khaw, 2nd Team
1999   Ushi Patel, Player of the Year
2012   Cat Sullivan, 3rd Team
           Suzanne Jokajtys, 3rd Team
2014   Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), 2nd Team
           Sarah Szybist (Chicago, IL/Ramstein), 3rd Team