Championship rings were recently presented to women’s volleyball players, coaches, and administrators.
The Daemen College women’s volleyball team recently celebrated their 2018 East Coast Conference championship at two separate functions.
On March 1, each team member was presented with a commemorative ECC championship ring. The ring ceremony took place at halftime of the Daemen men’s basketball game vs. Mercy College.
The team was also hosted for a special championship luncheon held on March 5 at Daemen House, the residence of Daemen President Gary Olson and Dr. Lynn Worsham. Other championship celebrations have been hosted at Daemen House over the past several years, including those for championship-winning men’s basketball, women’s basketball and men’s golf teams.
Dr. Lynn Worsham and President Gary Olson (second row-right) welcome the women’s volleyball team and Coach Stephanie Albano (second row-left) at Daemen House.
“We are incredibly thankful for the support of the Daemen community, beginning first and foremost with Dr. Olson and Dr. Worsham,” said head women’s volleyball coach Stephanie Albano. “As we have gotten back in the gym for spring workouts, it can be easy to forget the little things we all experienced together last fall during our ECC championship run. The ring ceremony on campus and the luncheon at Daemen House were good reminders of that journey and what this program is capable of as a team.”
After posting a 13-1 league record during the regular season, the Wildcats entered the four-team ECC Championship tournament as the number one seed. Hosting the conference tournament at Lumsden Gymnasium, Daemen defeated fourth-seeded University of Bridgeport in the semifinals and then second-seeded and defending conference champion Molloy College in the tournament finals. It marked Daemen’s first ECC tournament title. They advanced to the NCAA Division II East Region Championship for the second time in the last three seasons, and ended the year with a 21-11 overall record.