Alessi & Kuliga Named To Cavalier Invitational All-Tournament Team

9/12/2021 3:31:00 AM

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

AMHERST, N.Y. - Olivia Alessi (East Aurora, N.Y.) and Vanessa Kuliga (Glenview, Ill.) of the Daemen women's volleyball team have been named to the Cavalier Invitational All-Tournament Team for their performances this weekend. The Wildcat teammates were selected following a vote of the tournament's participating head coaches, and after helping Daemen to a 2-1 record this weekend.

Alessi, a 5-foot-4 sophomore, continued her strong play as the team's primary setter. Primarily a defensive specialist, Alessi has filled in admirably at setter early this season as senior Hannah McKee (East Highland, Calif.) and sophomore Dunja Masic (McHenry, Ill.) continue to work their way back from injuries. This weekend, Alessi appeared in all 12 sets and recorded three straight double-doubles - the first of her collegiate career. She averaged 10.75 assists and 3.5 digs per set in the three matches.

In Daemen's five-set loss to Davenport on Friday evening, Alessi posted a career-high 50 assists - the first 50-assist match for a Daemen player since Masic posted 51 in the 2020 season opener vs. Mercyhurst - and added 14 digs. She came back Saturday morning with 43 assists and 11 digs in a 3-0 win over Notre Dame (Ohio). In the tournament finale vs. Mercyhurst, Alessi posted 36 assists and a career-high 17 digs in a four-set Wildcat win.

For the season, Alessi is averaging 9.31 assists per set set to rank third among the East Coast Conference leaders.

A 6-foot middle blocker. Kuliga's best performance came in the win over NDC as she posted a career-high 14 kills and an otherworldly .667 hitting percentage. She went on to add seven kills on a .308 hitting percentage against Mercyhurst.

Across Daemen's three matches, she averaged 2.0 kills and 0.42 blocks per set while attacking at a .559 clip. Kuliga ranks second on the team this season with 46 kills. She leads the team and ranks second in the ECC with a .343 hitting percentage.

Alessi and Kuliga were joined on the All-Tournament Team by Emmy Webb of Davenport, Amber King of Walsh, Hannah Vuylsteke of Mercyhurst and Amelia Kaeberlein of Notre Dame. In addition, Davenport's Hailey Kreiger was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Alessi, Kuliga and the Wildcats return to action with three matches next weekend (Sept. 17-18) at the Redhakws Invitational on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan.

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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