Mankus nets national acclaim

"Be All You Can Be" was an Army recruiting slogan for many years.

Ariana Mankus sure lived it on the West Point volleyball court this fall.

The Benet graduate and 2008 Daily Herald All-Area captain was recently named the National Freshman of the Year by College Volleyball Update.com.

"I wasn't expecting it at all," Mankus said. "It is a big honor, though."

Mankus, part of Benet's 2008 Class 4A state runner-up, led Army to its first Patriot League volleyball championship in 15 years and the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. Army ended American University's eight-year run as Patriot League champions. Army, which lost to Pennsylvania in the NCAA Tournament's opening round, finished the season 26-6.

"It was just an amazing experience," Mankus said. "We worked hard and overcame some obstacles like injuries and sickness. It was so rewarding at the end."

The league's top hitter all year, Mankus averaged 3.67 kills per set with 12 double-doubles (kills and digs), 4 in Army's last four matches. Mankus had 23 double-digit kill matches, with a career-high 26 in a five-set win over American. She also had 16 kills and 12 digs in an upset of then 19th-ranked Pepperdine.

"I was expecting (the adjustment to collegiate volleyball)," to be a lot worse," Mankus said. "Obviously there are a lot of other things to adjust to other than volleyball, but I had a lot of help."