AMHERST, N.Y. -- Daemen University junior middle blocker Vanessa Kuliga (Glenview, Ill.) has been named the East Coast Conference Player of the Week for matches played October 3 through 9. The official announcement was made in the ECC's weekly sport report, announced this afternoon.

Kuliga started in both of Daemen's matches in the week, knocking down a total of 21 kills to average 3.0 kills/set, as well as eight service aces, four digs, and two blocks in the matches. In Wednesday's non-conference sweep over Le Moyne, Kuliga led the Wildcats offensively with 11 kills (3.66 kills/set) only one error for a season-high .714 hitting percentage. She added a career-high six aces (2.0 aces/set) in the win against the Dolphins. She ranked second on the team in kills in Saturday's 3-1 win over Mercy, tallying 10 kills (2.5 kills/set) for a .280 hitting percentage, and posted multiple aces (2) for the fifth time this season. 

The 6-0 junior leads all Daemen players with 21 aces on the season, averaging 0.5 aces per set on the year. Kuliga currently ranks fifth in the ECC in aces per set, while teammate Dunja Masic (McHenry, Ill.) remains at the top of the league with her 0.61 aces/set.

Kuliga has 95 kills (2.26 kills/set) on the season, third-most on the team. Kuliga ranks second in the ECC with her .288 hitting percentage this season. 

This is the first conference Player of the Week honor for Kuliga, and the second award for the middle blocker this season (she won Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5). She's the fourth Daemen player to earn the Player of the Week this season, as Maggie Burns (Louisville, Ky.) won it in Week 3, Sam Logan (Eden, N.Y.) won it in Week 5, and Kate Ryan (Buffalo, N.Y.) earned it in Week 6. In the 2021 season, Kuliga earned ECC Defensive Player of the Week once, and ECC Rookie of the Week twice. 

This is the fifth straight week the Wildcats have earned awards. Along with Burns' Player of the Week honor, Jasmine Brundage (East Aurora, N.Y.) earned Defensive Player of the Week in Week 3. In Week 5, Daemen swept the weekly awards, with Logan earning Player of the Week, Kuliga taking home Defensive Player of the Week, Olivia Alessi (East Aurora, N.Y.) winning her second Setter of the Week, and freshman Nahirka Malpica (Caguas, P.R.) winning Rookie of the Week. Ryan was the sole Wildcat to win last week, taking home Player of the Week honors.

Kuliga and Wildcats are back in action on Saturday, October 15 when they make the short trek across town to take on D'Youville at 1 PM. 
 

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Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 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.

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