Women's Volleyball 2021-22 Year In Review

DETROIT, Mich. - The Daemen women's volleyball team suffered a 3-1 loss (23-25, 25-19, 31-33, 15-25) to former conference rival Walsh in the first match of the 2021 season today. The match was played as part of the Warrior Invitational being hosted this weekend by Wayne State at the Matthaei Volleyball Facility. 

It marked Daemen's official return to their traditional fall season, and the loss snapped their modest three-match winning streak dating back to the team's unorthodox 2020 season which was shortened and played played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Walsh, a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, represented the first in a series of tests for Daemen this weekend. The Cavaliers posted an 11-2 overall record in their abbreviated 2020 campaign, and combined with the Wildcats' additional tournament opponents (Wayne State, East Stroudsburg, West Liberty) to go 81-44 during the 2019 season - the last full season for the majority of NCAA Division II teams. FULL RECAP

DETROIT, Mich. - The Daemen women's volleyball team suffered its second loss of the day as they wrapped up their opening day matches at the Warrior Invitational. Tournament host Wayne State knocked off the Wildcats by sweeping the first three sets (21-25, 13-25, 14-25) this afternoon at the Matthaei Volleyball Facility. 

The host Warriors, playing their first match of the 2021 season, connected for double figure kills in all three sets and attacked at a .289 clip for the match. Daemen started out strong with 15 kills in the opening set, but managed just 16 across the final two frames and dropped to 0-2 on the season. The Wildcats started the day with a tough 3-1 setback against Walsh. FULL RECAP

DETROIT, Mich - Caitlyn Meyer (Clarence, N.Y.), Allison Post (Windsor, Calif.) and Sam Logan (Eden, N.Y.) combined for 34 of Daemen's 50 kills to lead the Wildcats to their first win of the 2021 season today - a 3-1 dispatching (19-25, 25-21, 25-11, 25-17) of East Stroudsburg, the defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champions. This morning's match was the third of four for the Wildcats this weekend at the Warrior Invitational hosted by Wayne State at the Matthaei Volleyball Facility.

Daemen, which opened the tournament with losses yesterday to Walsh (3-1) and Wayne State (3-0), improved to 1-2 on the young season. East Stroudsburg, which won the PSAC tournament title in 2019, dropped to 0-3. The Warriors did not compete at all during the 2020-21 academic year and ended a 638-day hiatus between matches yesterday. The Wildcats' four opponents this weekend combined to go 81-44 during the 2019 season - the last full campaign for the vast majority of NCAA Division II teams. FULL RECAP

DETROIT, Mich - The Daemen women's volleyball team wrapped up day two of the Warrior Invitational with a 3-0 victory (25-11, 25-18, 25-23) over West Liberty this afternoon at the Matthaei Volleyball Facility on the campus of Wayne State. The victory gave the Wildcats a sweep of today's action as they even their record at 2-2 this season.

Caitlyn Meyer (Clarence, N.Y.), Sam Logan (Eden, N.Y.) and Allison Post (Windsor, Calif.) - the same trio that led the Wildcats to a 3-1 victory over defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion East Stroudsburg to open today's action - were the offensive stars for the Wildcats again. The trio combined for 40 of Daemen's 51 kills in the match. The Wildcats posted a season-best .324 hitting percentage and limited the Hilltoppers to just 26 kills on a .151 hitting percentage.  FULL RECAP

NORTH CANTON, Ohio - The Daemen women's volleyball team suffered a grueling 3-2 defeat (25-22, 17-25, 25-20, 21-25, 13-15) to the Davenport Panthers on the opening day of the Cavalier Invitational on the campus of Walsh University. 

The loss snapped Daemen modest two-match winning streak, dropping the Wildcats to 2-3 this season. Davenport, which dropped a 3-1 decision to Mercyhurst earlier today, improved to 3-3. Their victory snapped a three-match losing streak. FULL RECAP

NORTH CANTON, Ohio - Saturdays are for the ladies. Daemen volleyball ladies that is. 

For the second straight Saturday, the Wildcats emerged with a sweep of two tournament matches, improving to 4-3 this season in the process. Daemen opened today's action at the Cavalier Invitational on the campus of Walsh University by posting a 3-0 victory (25-13, 28-26, 25-16) over the Notre Dame (Ohio) Falcons. It marked the Wildcats' sixth straight win in the series with NDC, a former rival in the now-defunct American Mideast Conference that competes in the Mountain East Conference nowadays. The Falcons entered this weekend's tournament with a 5-0 record, but the loss to Daemen dropped them to 6-2 overall. 

The Wildcats went on to conclude the tournament with a 3-1 dispatching (25-23, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20) of the Mercyhurst Lakers. It marked Daemen's first win in the series since 2011, snapping a three-match slide to the Lakers. It was the Lakers' third loss of the weekend, dropping them to 3-5 this season. FULL RECAP

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Daemen women's volleyball went the distance, but came away with nothing to show for it. During opening day action of the Redhawks Tournament on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan College, Daemen suffered a pair of five-set defeats to upper-echelon teams from the Northeast-10 Conference. 

In a match that lasted nearly three hours, the Wildcats built a 2-1 lead, but couldn't seal the deal in a 3-2 loss (23-25, 25-15, 25-18, 23-25, 13-15) to New Haven - a program that boasts 14 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. The Wildcats racked up a season-high 69 kills and had four players reach double figures in the loss. 

In the nightcap, Daemen fell into a 2-0 hole to American International - the NE-10's preseason favorite - before rallying to force a fifth set. The Yellow Jackets opened a 7-1 lead in the deciding set, and finished off the Wildcats (21-25, 17-25, 25-22, 25-20, 11-15). AIC has played in three of the last four NCAA tournaments, winning two regional titles in that span. FULL RECAP

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Less than 24 hours removed from suffering a pair of gut-wrenching five-set losses, the Daemen women's volleyball team kept its Saturday winning streak alive, bouncing back today to defeat Stonehill 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-14, 25-16) on the final day of the Redhawks Tournament at the Voller Athletic Center on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan. 

The Wildcats totaled 45 kills and limited the Skyhawks to just a .007 hitting percentage - the lowest for any Daemen opponent this season. The victory evens Daemen's record at 5-5 this season. All five Daemen wins have come on Saturdays. FULL RECAP

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Daemen women's volleyball team has been playing some nail biters of late, but that was not the case this afternoon as the Wildcats cruised to a 3-0 victory (25-11, 25-14, 25-17) over host Queens at Fitzgerald Gymnasium. It marked the first East Coast Conference match for both the Wildcats and Knights since 2019. 

Daemen improved to 6-5 overall this season. The Wildcats have won two straight and four of their last six, while Queens (1-9, 0-1 ECC) dropped their seventh consecutive match. 

The Wildcats are now 5-3 all-time in ECC season openers, winning five of their last six. FULL RECAP

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – After a three-set sweep against Queens College the day before, the Daemen women's volleyball team continued their road trip in Quealy Gymnasium on the campus of Molloy College Sunday afternoon. As part of a tri-match event with the host and ECC preseason favorites Lions and Southern Connecticut State, the Wildcats came away with a split before heading back to Main Street.
 
In back-to-back contests, the Wildcats defeated the Lions in three straight sets (25-19, 25-17, 28-26) to start the day.
 
Then, in the second match, Daemen built a 1-0 lead before the Owls recovered to take the next three sets, including a hard-fought fourth set, for the 3-1 victory (25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 35-37.)
 
With the split today, Daemen's record is now 7-6 overall on the season and 2-0 in ECC play. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - Make it 13 straight wins for Daemen in the Thruway Rivalry series.

Playing in front of a home crowd for the first time this season, the Wildcats picked up a 3-1 victory (25-15, 25-22, 19-25, 25-12) over long-time rival Roberts Wesleyan in East Coast Conference action tonight. The Wildcats have won four of their five matches, improving to 8-6 overall this season while also remaining unbeaten (3-0) in conference play. 

Roberts Wesleyan, which was seeking its first win in the series since 2014, dropped to 0-13 this season, including an 0-3 mark in the conference. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - Three players recorded double-doubles as the Daemen women's volleyball team picked up their fifth win in the last six matches, defeating visiting St. Rose 3-1 (22-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-14) in a non-conference match this afternoon at Lumsden Gymnasium. 

With the win, Daemen improves to 9-6 on the season. The Wildcats also extended their home winning streak to three straight matches dating back to last season. The Wildcats are 23-9 at home since the start of the 2018 season. 

St. Rose ended up with a split of its matches today, moving to 5-10 on the season. The Golden Knights started the day with a 3-0 victory (25-20, 26-24, 25-19) over D'Youville in a neutal site match also played at Lumsden Gymnasium. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen women's volleyball team scored arguably their biggest win of the season tonight as they knocked off surging Edinboro 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 26-24) in non-conference action at Lumsden Gymnasium.

The Wildcats have now won six of their last seven matches, improving to 10-6 this season. The last three of those victories have come at home where the Wildcats are 24-9 since the start of the 2018 season. Edinboro, which entered tonight riding an eight-match winning streak, tasted defeat for just the second time this season as they dropped to 12-2.  

It also marked just the second win for Daemen in the all-time series with Edinboro, and their first since 2012. The Fighting Scots had won 10 of the 11 lifetime meetings before tonight. Tonight's match was the first between the teams since 2015. FULL RECAP

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. - In a showdown of unbeaten East Coast Conference women's volleyball squads, Daemen looked every bit the part of a conference champion contender as the Wildcats needed only a little more than an hour to take down Mercy in straight sets (25-16, 25-11, 25-21) at Victory Gymnasium this afternoon.

With the win, Daemen improved to 11-6 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The Wildcats have won four straight matches, seven of their last eight overall and five straight ECC matches dating back to the 2019 season. Daemen put down 41 kills with a .263 hitting percentage while limiting the Mavericks to a season-low 26 kills and just a .020 hitting percentage. 

Mercy, which had won five of their last six matches, dropped to 7-8 overall and 3-1 in the conference. FULL RECAP

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Daemen women's volleyball team will return from a weekend road trip with their unblemished East Coast Conference record intact after powering their way to a 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-16, 25-18) over Bridgeport at Hubbell Gymnasium this afternoon. 

Daemen, which handed Mercy its first ECC loss of the season yesterday, was the far superior team once again as they compiled a .343 hitting percentage while limiting the Purple Knights to just .120. Bridgeport entered the match ranked first in the conference with a .247 team hitting percentage. 

Daemen has won five straight matches and eight of their last nine, improving to 12-6 on the season and a perfect 5-0 in conference play. The five-match winning streak is Daemen's longest since rattling off six in a row in the early portions of the 2019 campaign. FULL RECAP

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Daemen women's volleyball team needed just over an hour to dispatch of crosstown rival D'Youville, winning 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-23) in the teams' first-ever East Coast Conference meeting this evening at the College Center Gymnasium. 

Separated by less than 10 miles, the Wildcats and Saints saw their rivalry move into new territory as D'Youville continues its transition from the NCAA Division III ranks to Division II. The teams met last April for the first time since 2008, and the 2021 season marks D'Youville's first as a member of the East Coast Conference. The Wildcats improved to 5-0 all-time against D'Youville with their victory. 

The win also extended Daemen's winning streak to six straight matches - their longest since rattling off six in a row early in the 2019 season. The Wildcats have won nine of their last 10 matches, going 28-7 in sets during that span, and are now 13-6 overall and 6-0 in conference play this season. FULL RECAP

ERIE, Pa. - The Daemen women's volleyball team saw their longest winning streak of the season come to an end following a 3-1 loss (25-21, 15-25, 15-25, 16-25) to perennial contender Gannon in a non-conference match at the historic Hammermill Center this evening. 

Daemen, which entered the match as winners of six straight and nine of their last 10, dropped its first match since a 3-1 setback to Southern Connecticut State on September 26. The Wildcats' record stands at 13-7 this season. 

On the other side, Gannon picked up its fourth straight win, improving to 19-4. The Golden Knights, members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, have been to the last 11 NCAA tournaments and are presently receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II national poll. Gannon has won 14 straight meetings with the Wildcats. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - With three weeks still remaining in the regular season, the Daemen women's volleyball team is officially postseason bound. The Wildcats clinched a berth to next month's East Coast Conference Championship tournament by defeating Queens (N.Y.) 3-0 (25-7, 25-12, 25-18) this evening at Lumsden Gymnasium. The win keeps the Wildcats unbeaten (7-0) in conference play and atop the ECC standings. 

Daemen has won 10 of their last 12 matches, improving to 14-7 overall with today's victory. They remain in the driver's seat in the race for the conference tournament's number one seed. The ECC Championship will feature the top four teams in the final league standings and is slated for November 19-20 on the campus of the top seed. The Wildcats will be making their fourth conference tournament appearance since gaining full NCAA Division II membership in 2015. The 2021 tournament will be the conference's first since 2019 after seeing the full 2020 conference slate wiped out by COVID-19. 

Tonight's result also extended Daemen's home winning streak to five straight matches dating back to last season. In home matches, the Wildcats are 4-0 this season, 25-9 since the start of the 2018 season and 23-5 in conference matches since head coach Stephanie Albano took the reigns of the program in 2016. It also marked Albano's 90th win as head coach, and she stands just three wins shy of passing Sally Kus for the second most victories among coaches in team history. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen women's volleyball team kept its perfect East Coast Conference record intact with a 3-0 victory (25-22, 25-18, 25-16) this afternoon over Molloy at Lumsden Gymnasium.

The Wildcats, who clinched a conference tournament berth following a 3-0 defeat of Queens (N.Y.) last evening, are winners in 11 of their 13 matches. They improved to 15-7 overall and 8-0 in conference play with today's victory. With just four ECC games remaining on the schedule, the Wildcats are firmly in control of the race for the No. 1 seed in the ECC Championships. The four-team conference tournament  is slated for November 19-20 on the campus of the top seed. 

The Wildcats have won six straight home matches and are 5-0 at Lumsden Gymnasium this season. Head coach Stephanie Albano has led the program to a 24-5 record in home conference matches in her tenure, and today's win was the 91st of her career. She stands just two wins shy of passing Sally Kus for the second most victories among coaches in team history. FULL RECAP

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Daemen women's volleyball team improved to 9-0 in East Coast Conference play following a 3-0 victory (25-21, 25-16, 25-19) over long-time rival Roberts Wesleyan at the Voller Athletic Center this evening. With the win, the Wildcats have matched their longest conference winning streak and best start to a conference season since joining the ECC in 2013. 

Daemen has won 12 of their last 14 matches, improving to 16-7 overall. The Wildcats last started 9-0 in ECC play during the 2018 season when they finished 13-1 and captured both the ECC regular season and tournament titles. Tonight's victory moves Daemen one step closer to securing the No. 1 seed and hosting rights for the upcoming ECC Championship tournament. The Wildcats have already clinched a bid to the four-team tournament which is slated for November 19-20. The conference tournament champion automatically advances to the NCAA tournament. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen women's volleyball team improved to 17-7 overall and kept their perfect East Coast Conference record intact following a 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-10, 25-19) of visiting D'Youville at Lumsden Gymnasium this evening. 

At 10-0, the Wildcats are off to their best start in conference play since joining the ECC in 2013. Tonight's win eclipses the program's previous ECC-era record set in 2018 when they opened 9-0 en route to a 13-1 finish.

The Wildcats, who have won 13 of their last 15 matches overall, remain in control of the ECC standings and are now one win away from clinching the No. 1 seed to the ECC Championship tournament. The conference tournament features the top four teams in the final standings, and is slated for November 19-20 on the campus of the top seed. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen women's volleyball team has claimed its third East Coast Conference regular season championship following a 3-0 victory (25-18, 25-13, 26-24) over the visiting Mercy Mavericks this afternoon at Lumsden Gymnasium. The win keeps Daemen's unblemished conference record intact at 11-0 as the Wildcats clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ECC Championship tournament.

With the No. 1 seed comes hosting rights for the ECC Championship. The tournament will come to Lumsden Gymnasium for the third time (2016, 2018), and it features the top four teams in the final ECC standings with the semifinal round on Friday, November 19 and the finals on Saturday, November 20. The Wildcats will be seeking their second ECC tournament crown, and their first since 2018. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. – Finishing at the top.  
 
After clinching their third East Coast Conference regular season championship in the program and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ECC Championship tournament less than 24 hours ago, the Daemen women's volleyball program placed another log on its metaphorical fire Sunday morning.
 
Behind a few lengthy runs – most notably turning a four-point deficit into a seven-point lead as part of an 11-0 run in the third and final set – the Wildcats capped off their first-ever unbeaten conference season in program history (12-0) following a 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-15, 25-16) over the visiting Bridgeport Purple Knights in a Senior Day contest at Lumsden Gymnasium. FULL RECAP

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Daemen women's volleyball team earned its 20th win of the season, knocking off host Le Moyne 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-14) in non-conference action at Ted Grant Court this evening. 

The Wildcats end the regular season with a 20-7 overall record, and will head into postseason play as winners in seven straight and 16 of their last 18 matches. It marks the 12th 20-win season in program history and the third of the team's NCAA era (2015-present). FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - The top-seeded Daemen Wildcats moved one step closer to a conference title by defeating the fourth-seeded Molloy Lions 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-20) in the semifinal round of the East Coast Conference Volleyball Championship this evening at Lumsden Gymnasium. Daemen will face second-seeded Bridgeport which defeated third-seeded Mercy 3-1 in tonight's second semifinal. 

Daemen, which is seeking the second ECC tournament championship in program history, improved to 21-7 on the season. The Wildcats have won eight straight and 17 of their last 19 matches. On the other side, Molloy's season comes to an end at 12-14. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - That championship feeling was pulsating through Lumsden Gymnasium late this afternoon as top-seeded Daemen outlasted second-seeded Bridgeport in a thrilling five-set match (15-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-16, 15-6) to win the 2021 East Coast Conference Volleyball Championship tournament. The Wildcats, now 22-7 on the season, will represent the ECC as the league's automatic qualifier for the upcoming NCAA Division II Championship. Regional bids, host sites and dates will be announced Monday at 7:30 p.m. on the NCAA Selection Show at ncaa.com.

Led by Vanessa Kuliga (Glenview, Ill.), who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Daemen grabbed the second ECC tournament title in team history and their first since 2018. Today's win extended the Wildcats' winning streak to nine-straight matches - their longest since rattling off 15 consecutive victories during the 2016 campaign. Daemen has won 18 of their last 20 matches. FULL RECAP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Survive and advance.

That's exactly what transpired late this afternoon as the second-seeded Daemen Wildcats rallied to defeat the seventh-seeded Bentley Falcons 3-2 (25-17, 21-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-10) in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship East Regional at Henry A. Butova Gymnasium on the campus of American International College. With the win, Daemen advances to tomorrow's regional semifinal match against third-seeded Stonehill.  FULL RECAP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - For the second time in program history, the Daemen Wildcats will compete for a regional championship. Second-seeded Daemen picked up a 3-1 victory over the third-seeded Stonehill Skyhawks in the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball East Regional semifinals this evening at Henry A. Butova Gymnasium on the campus of American International College. In the process, Daemen head coach Stephanie Albano earned the 100th win of her career. 

Daemen will head to the regional finals as winners in 11 straight and 20 of their last 22 matches, improving to 24-7 overall with tonight's win. They'll face top-seeded American International which advanced to the regional finals with a straight sets sweep of fifth-seeded Holy Family in tonight's second semifinal. It marks a rematch of the 2016 East Regional finals. FULL RECAP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - For the first time in program history, the Daemen women's volleyball team is headed to the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship Elite Eight. The Wildcats claimed the 2021 East Region championship by stunning top-seeded American International 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19) in their home gym this evening. 

Daemen will learn its national quarterfinal opponent Sunday when the seeds for the Elite Eight are announced at ncaa.com. The Elite Eight runs from December 9-11 at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center on the campus of the University of Tampa (Fla.). 

Daemen, the East Region's No. 2 seed, extended its winning streak to 12 straight matches, improving to 25-7 this season. The Wildcats have won 21 of their last 23 matches, and tonight's victory snapped AIC's 22-match winning streak. It ranked as the second longest active winning streak in the country entering tonight's contest. The Wildcat victory was five years in the making as they repaid the Yellow Jackets for their 2016 East Region championship win on Daemen's home floor. FULL RECAP

TAMPA, Fla. - Daemen saw their historic 2021 season come to an end today following a 3-0 loss (25-12, 25-16, 25-19) to Western Washington in the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship Elite Eight at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center on the campus of the University of Tampa. 

After ending American International's 22-match winning streak to win the East Regional title last Saturday, Daemen couldn't do the same to the highly touted Vikings. WWU extended their winning streak to 20 straight matches - the longest active streak among Division II teams - and improved to 25-4 overall. The Vikings are the No. 2 seed in the Elite Eight and are also ranked 13th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 Poll. They advance to the Final Four where they'll face third-seeded Washburn tomorrow at 5 p.m.

Daemen, the No. 7 seed, finishes with a 25-8 overall record. The Wildcats matched the highest win total of the program's NCAA Division II era (2015-present) which was last achieved in 2016. Today's loss snapped the Wildcats' 12-match winning streak which ranked as the third longest among Division II teams heading into today's contest. FULL RECAP