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Women's Volleyball Takes On Final Road Tournament At Wildcat Classic

9/10/2026 3:30:00 PM

By: CONTACT: Mary Margaret Johnson, Director of Athletics Communications | mmjohnso@daemen.edu

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Daemen University women's volleyball team hits the road for the final tournament of the preseason, heading to New Castle, Del. to play four matches against regional opponents at the Wildcat Invitational, hosted by Wilmington University. Daemen will face Holy Family (9 AM) of the CACC and Saint Anselm (3 PM) of the NE10 on Friday then close out the tournament on Saturday against Wilmington (11 AM) out of the CACC and Adelphi (11 AM) of the NE10.

LAST WEEKEND
The Wildcats come into the weekend with a 3-5 overall record after going 2-2 at IUP's Crimson Hawk Classic last weekend. Daemen picked up a pair of thrilling five-set victories on Friday over Lake Erie and West Liberty paced by the outstanding play of junior outside hitter Avery Craig (Tomball, Tex.). Craig totaled 36 kills and 36 digs over two matches, including a career-best 21 kills in the victory over Lake Erie, and posted a double-double in both wins. Freshman Audrey Johnson (Mequon, Wisc.) finished with 22 kills on Friday -- 11 kills in each -- and tallied her second double-double with 12 digs against the Lakers. After winning their second and third straight matches on Friday night, the Wildcats faced tough competition on Saturday and fell in both matches, first to Ashland (0-3) and in the tournament finale on Saturday afternoon to host IUP (1-3). Freshman defensive specialist Mollie Berry (Evergreen Park, Ill.) totaled 30 digs on the day, including a career-high 19 against the Crimson Hawks.

BIG BLOCK ENERGY
Daemen leads the league in blocks, totaling 69 to average 2.09 blocks/set through the first two weekends of play. The Wildcats are led defensively by sophomore middle blocker Jolie Faw (Williamsburg, Va.) who leads the ECC with a 1.09 block per set average and 36 total blocks on the year, including five solo blocks. Senior middle blocker Amelia González (Juana Diaz, P.R.) ranks second in the league with 0.90 blocks/set and totals 28 blocks so far this season. González led the Cats at the net this past weekend with 14 total blocks, paced by a season-tying high six blocks in the win against West Liberty.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats will finally make their Lumsden Gymnasium debut next weekend with their first home match of the 2026 season as they host Saint Michael's on Saturday, Sept. 19 in a 1 PM match up.

SCOUTING HOLY FAMILY
After an impressive 2025 campaign that the Tigers finished with a 23-10 record in the East Region semifinals, Holy Family has had a tough start to 2026, coming into the Wildcat Classic with a 1-5 overall record. After sweeping Southern New Hampshire in their second game of the year, Holy Family has lost the last four straight matches. Averaging 10.9 kills per set, the Tigers are led by sophomore outside hitter Mackenzie Layton who has 83 kills (3.77 kills/set) on the year and has hit in the double digits in five of Holy Family's six matches. Junior outside hitter Gianna DiPilato adds 2.3 kills/set. Freshman middle Allana Johnson leads the Tigers with 22 blocks (1.0/set) this season. Daemen is 1-1 all-time against the Tigers, with Holy Family winning last year's match up at this tournament 3-1.

SCOUTING SAINT ANSELM
In their final season as an NCAA Division II program before dropping down to Division III next year, Saint Anselm has been off to a hot start, going 4-2 in their first two weekends. The Hawks went 2-2 this past weekend at the King Classic in Tennessee. Saint A's averages 10.6 kills per set and are led by senior right side Sam Pila with 66 kills (3.14 kills/set). The Hawks have four other players who have 20+ kills on the season so far, including sophomore middle blocker Etta Rocco (2.19 kills/set). The Wildcats and Hawks are 2-2 all-time. This will be the first time the pair have met on the court since Daemen fell 0-3 to Saint Anselm in the 2022 East Region quarterfinals.

SCOUTING WILMINGTON
The Wildcats put together a solid 19-14 overall season while going 11-4 in CACC play. It's been a tough start to the 2026 campaign, however, and Wilmington comes into their home tournament with a 0-8 record. The Wildcats have two players with 50+ kills this season and are led by Liani Sierra with 57 kills (2.48/set) and Chelsea Blaine-Agett with 52 kills (2.08/set). Daemen is 6-1 all-time against Wilmington and won last year's matchup at the Wildcat Classic 3-1.

SCOUTING ADELPHI
A perennial powerhouse in the East Region, Adelphi put together a 24-9 overall record in 2025 that ended in the East Region quarterfinals in a loss to Holy Family. The Panthers have opened up their 2026 campaign with a 2-6 record after playing against tough competition in two top-10 teams in their home tournament to start the year, as well as traveling west to play in the Colorado State Pueblo tournament last weekend. Senior outside hitter Madeleine Chaapel leads the Panthers with 62 kills (2.7/set) while freshman Morgan Meyer adds 48 (2.53/set) on the year. The Wildcats are 3-3 all-time against Adelphi and fell in five sets to the Panthers last season at this tournament.

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