Santita Ebangwese becomes vocal leader for Syracuse as freshman

As the Syracuse server prepares to strike the ball over the net, there is usually silence — unless Santita Ebangwese is on the court.

Before every point, Ebangwese yells out what at first sounds gibberish. However, she says she is calling out the hitters, where they’re going to hit, along with the position of the setter. She said it allows the defense and blockers to be more aware of what’s coming.

The freshman middle blocker says her calls have confused opponents.

“At first they didn’t know what I was saying,” Ebangwese said. “They start staring at me, maybe they’re focusing on me instead of what they’re doing.”

Head coach Leonid Yelin said having Ebangwese’s personality is necessary for the dynamic of a Syracuse (18-7, 9-5 Atlantic Coast) team seeing far more success with her on the court this season.

Ebangwese said her personality was so important to Yelin, that it was one of the reasons he recruited her.

“Seeing Sanitata get kills and then go crazy… it gets the whole team excited,” Belle Sand said. “What’s more exciting than her 10-foot kills? A kill is a kill, but those get you even more excited.”

Ebangwese seems to have the confidence and leadership of an upperclassman, Yelin said. But despite being so boisterous during games, the freshman says she is far quieter off the court.

“When I’m on the court I don’t think of myself as a freshman, I’m a starter, I do what I need to do,” Ebangwese said. “Off the court I’m a little less vocal, cause I’m the freshman.

Ebangwese, the only freshman starter on the team, was awarded ACC Freshman of the Week on Monday. Against North Carolina and North Carolna State, Ebangwese totaled 17 kills and 15 blocks,  recording a career-high and Syracuse season-high 12 blocks on Sunday.

Ebangwese has the fourth most kills on the team and is 11 blocks behind the ACC leader in total blocks, teammate Leah Levert.

“It’s very nice to be recognized,” the freshman said, “but I’m playing the game for my team, I’m not playing it for awards.”

When Sand dove to the ground against UNC, saving the ball just before it hits the wood floor, setter Gosia Wlaszczuk looked to see which one of her hitters to set up. Ebangwese made her route from the middle to the outside, a set up to a massive slam on the opposite end of the court.

Ebangwese calls this her “fly.”

There are very few Syracuse volleyball games one will attend without seeing one of those from the freshman. As the season has gone on, Ebangwese believes teams have begun to game plan for her “fly”.

“They attack me,” Ebangwese said, “they know it’s a pretty powerful hit and it can also change momentum. They know for them to win, they need to shut the middle down.”

Ebangwese believes that this extra game planning has helped her improve. It has become a wake-up call that she’s playing Division I. She understands she needs to be more purposeful in what she does and has to be a smarter player.

Despite her success as a freshman, Yelin knows she’s not all there yet.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Yelin said, “she’s a middle blocker, she has to try to get better at blocking and making smart choices when hitting.”

Ebangwese thinks she’s not only become a better blocker in her first season, but become more agile and smarter with the way she approaches the game.

But she’ll always make herself known on the court with her vocal style of play.

“I want to help the team,” Ebangwese said, “and I want to be a presence that everyone notices.”