Match #10
Daemen Wildcats (6-3, 0-0 ECC) vs. D'Youville Saints (4-11, 0-0 ECC)
Date: Thursday, September 22
Time: 6 PM
Location: Amherst, N.Y. | Lumsden Gym
Live Stream: ECC Network
Live Stats: via
daemenathletics.com
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
The Daemen University women's volleyball team returns home to Lumsden Gym for the first time since September 5 when they play host to crosstown foe D'Youville on Thursday evening. This is the first East Coast Conference match of the season for both the Wildcats and Saints. Thursday's matchup marks the seventh meeting between Daemen and D'Youville, with the Wildcats owning a 6-0 series lead, with every match but the first coming as a 3-0 Daemen sweep. The Wildcats come into ECC play with a 6-3 non-conference record on the season. Down in West Virginia this past weekend, Daemen split the weekend's matches, falling to Fairmont State on Friday and rebounding with a 3-0 sweep over West Liberty.
BURNS, BABY BURNS
Daemen outside hitter
Maggie Burns (Louisville, Ky.) has had an impressive start to her senior season. The Louisville native leads the Wildcats offensively, totaling 85 kills (3.25 kills/set) on the season, a full 24 more than the next highest player on the team. Burns ranks second among the Wildcats in digs (88), averaging 3.38 digs per set, and ranks third on the team in blocks with 5.0 on the year. Over the weekend, she tallied 21 kills to average 4.2 kills/set, and added her fourth double-double (kills-digs) in her 15 kill, 14 dig effort against West Liberty. Through nine matches, Burns has led the team in kills six times. She was named ECC Player of the Week for Sept. 5-11.
GOOD START
The Wildcats are off to their best start since the 2019 season. Through nine matches, Daemen is out-killing opponents 404 to 332 for a .212 hitting percentage, and averaging 13.0 kills per set compared to 10.7 for their opponents. Defensively, the Wildcats average 16.8 digs per set compared to 14.9 for their opponents, and they average 11.1 assists/set compared to to 9.4 from their opponents.
SET-TASTIC
In just five matches, junior setter
Olivia Alessi (East Aurora, N.Y.) is already in midseason form. Alessi picked up her first ECC Setter of the Week honors on Monday, just a week after notching her 1,000th career assist. Down in West Virginia over the weekend, the junior setter totaled 53 assists (10.6 assists/set) and 24 digs. She earned her second double-double of the season against West Liberty, where she tallied a season-high 37 assists and 16 digs. She added two kills, two aces and a block on the weekend.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats continue their homestand at Lumsden Gym this weekend. Daemen will host Queens on Saturday at 1 PM, and will face Molloy on Sunday at 11 AM.
D'YOUVILLE SAINTS SCOUTING REPORT
After opening up the 2022 season by splitting their matches at the Southern New Hampshire/Saint Anselm Tournament, D'Youville has had a tough September. The Saints are 4-11 on the season, and are currently on an eight-game losing streak. D'Youville is averaging 8.15 kills per set, led by sophomore outside hitter
Jaycee Karelus who averages 2.06 kills/set for a .151 hitting percentage. She currently ranks third in the ECC with 105 kills on the season. Sophomore setter
Emma Wlostowski leads the team in assists and digs, tallying 364 assists on the year (6.62 assists/set) and 118 digs (2.15 digs/set).
Brianna Damstetter leads D'Youville at the net with 36 total blocks, 13 solo and 23 assisted, to average .78 blocks per set. The Saints have been bested by the Wildcats in all six matches they've played, with Daemen finishing with a sweep in all but the first meeting.
ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. D'YOUVILLE
Series Record: 6-0 Daemen
At Daemen: 2-0 Daemen
Current Streak: Daemen won 6
Last Meeting: Daemen 3, D'Youville 0 (25-21, 25-10, 25-19) | Nov. 2, 2021, Amherst, N.Y.
