Kuliga Named ECC Defensive Player of the Week

11/15/2021 3:35:00 PM

By: CONTACT: Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for Communications/Operations | 716-839-8385 | mmiranto@daemen.edu

AMHERST, N.Y. - Sophomore middle blocker Vanessa Kuliga (Glenview, Ill.) of Daemen College has been named the East Coast Conference Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week for matches played November 8-14. The official announcement was made in the ECC's weekly sport report which was released this afternoon.

Kuliga played a starring defensive role in Daemen's 3-0 sweep of Le Moyne last Thursday - the Wildcats' only action of the week. The Illinois native recorded five total blocks (one solo, four assisted) - just one shy of her career-high. As a team, Daemen notched seven blocks in the match - their most since having eight in a 3-0 sweep of D'Youville on October 13.

Kuliga's efforts helped the Wildcats earn their seventh consecutive victory and 20th win of the season. It marks the 12th 20-win season in program history, and the third of the team's NCAA Division II era (2015-present).

Kuliga is now a three-time ECC weekly award recipient this season. She was previously named the ECC Rookie of the Week for the periods of September 13-19 and October 4-11. Daemen, which posted a 12-0 record in conference play, has had at least one award recipient in 10 of 11 weeks this season. The Wildcats have accounted for seven ECC Defensive Player of the Week selections.

For the season, Kuliga has appeared in 91 of a possible 96 sets. She leads the team and ranks seventh in the ECC with 57 total blocks. She has also contributed 173 kills and ranks third in the ECC with a .319 hitting percentage.

Kuliga and the Wildcats (20-7) return to action this Friday, November 19 as they host fourth-seeded Molloy in the semifinal round of the ECC Championship tournament at Lumsden Gymnasium.

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen College women's volleyball program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWVB.

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