Pittsburgh Native Joins Women's Volleyball 2021 Recruiting Class

AMHERST, N.Y. - Head coach Stephanie Albano has announced the signing of Alex Leise (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) to the Daemen College women's volleyball team's 2021 recruiting class. Leise, a 5-foot-10 middle hitter, is the fourth member of the class, joining Kate Ryan (Buffalo, N.Y./Mt. Mercy), Brianna Martin (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) and Amelia Armstrong (River Falls, Wisc./River Falls) whose commitments were announced last month.

Strengthening the team's presence at the net was something Albano set out to achieve, saying last month, “the goal for 2021 was to really address the middle blocker and right side positions. We've been hit hard by graduation at those positions, including those graduating next spring.”

Leise fits the mold for the Wildcats as she's been a three-time First Team All-Section and two-time All-Conference honoree while playing for the Montour High School Spartans and coach Mike Marchionda. A four-year varsity player, Leise led the Spartans to sectional championships in 2017 and 2020, as well as runner-up finishes within the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League both of those seasons. Earlier this month, she was named to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class AAA All-State Team. 

In addition to her exploits at the high school level, Leise was active on the club scene, playing for the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association.

“Alex is a physical middle who plays for a strong club in Pittsburgh,” Albano said. “She is a strong student and brings that same drive and work ethic to the court. She will push herself and others to get better.”

A member of the National Honor Society, Leise plans to be a physician assistant major at Daemen.