The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The official Volleyball page for the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels She received a successful bone marrow transplant from her father on Feb. 19, 2019. For two and a half years, she never stopped fighting, but on Christmas morning, she passed away. “Volleyball was just the vehicle that allowed her to find herself,” Hudson said. She’s a young lady that lived every second of her life.”. A four-time All-American and two-time Conference USA Player of the Year at Western Kentucky University where she won four C-USA tournament titles and was part of the program’s first class to appear in the NCAA Tournament every year. She also earned the 2017-18 Conference USA Michael L. Slive Female Athlete of the Year award. Bowling Green, KY. She was 24. © 2021 www.courier-journal.com. Alyssa Cavanaugh, Louisville native and former WKU volleyball star, dies at 24, For WKU volleyball All-American, there's 'hope' despite cancer battle, Ex-WKU volleyball player gets unexpected bone marrow donor 4 months later, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. “As sad as I am that she’s not here right now, I’m not sad for the life she lived. The official Volleyball page for the University of Kentucky Wildcats PROVO, Utah – No. That drive, and stubbornness, made its way to Bowling Green for Travis Hudson’s Western Kentucky program. Whether you're looking to explore the natural world, walk to a restaurant downtown, or catch a sporting event, Bowling Green has a variety of attractions for WKU students and their families to enjoy. Lee Feinswog-September 27, 2016. It was through that journey that she ultimately found herself and became this young woman that inspired so many with the way she lived her life.”. Western Kentucky volleyball program remembers Alyssa Cavanaugh This information is very valuable for all high school student-athletes to understand as they start the recruiting process. When someone talked about Cavanaugh, the word “competitor” tended to come up. The daughter of Eric and Leslie Cavanaugh was stubborn. She closed her career with 123 wins and just 17 losses and ranks second in program history with 1,816 career kills and third all-time with 3.78 kills per set across her career. Alyssa Cavanaugh, a Louisville native who helped lead Western Kentucky University's volleyball program to new heights as she grew into one of the best players in … The Kennesaw State volleyball team is heading to Bowling Green, Kentucky to square off with No. “We would always joke around about how we didn’t have this great relationship, but as teammates you start to learn more and more about each other. Often, the club enters two sides into tournaments. Cavanaugh’s competitive nature on the court prepared her for the challenge that was greater than any defender in volleyball. Official Facebook page of the WKU Lady Topper volleyball team Some days were easier than others for Cavanaugh, but she never allowed it to stop what she set her mind to. The official Men's Basketball page for the Michigan Wolverines “Surprisingly, I’ve had several people who still play overseas that we competed against say the same thing. She was prepared to pursue a master’s degree at Northumbria University in England while beginning a professional volleyball career, but less than a month before planning to travel, she experienced kidney pain which doctors diagnosed as a kidney infection. Bigger than playing for a state title or a conference title. After a 2019 season that saw the Western Kentucky volleyball team continue to climb to new heights, the Conference USA coaches have picked … “And not a game — we’d be going up against these Power Five schools, and I’m the person that was always nervous, and I’d have these jitters and she’d be like, ‘What are you worried about?’ She just competed and you knew that if she’s on your side of the court you had a chance to win that night.”, From 2018: For WKU volleyball All-American, there's 'hope' despite cancer battle. He added … 15 seed Western Kentucky in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Volleyball tournament. Story Links BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After a 2019 season that saw WKU Volleyball continue to climb to new heights, the Conference USA coaches have picked the Hilltoppers to win the league's East division this season.Lauren Matthews was selected as the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year and was joined on the Preseason All-Conference team by teammates Paige Briggs and Nadia Dieudonne. “We had another young lady in our program who had been diagnosed with cancer and Alyssa met with her and talked with her and encouraged her and she is in remission and getting stronger,” Kordes said. Western Kentucky University sports news and features, including conference, nickname, location and official social media handles. They participate in numerous tournaments as well as single matches. Western Kentucky setter Nadia Dieudonne (2) sets the ball for a shot in the 2019 Conference USA Volleyball Tournament Final Sunday, Nov 24, 2019, in Houston. Email: dyates@courierjournal.com. Even bigger than playing the University of Kentucky in a five-set thriller in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. However, after antibiotics didn’t help, a blood test after a trip to the emergency room discovered her white blood-cell count was high. On Sept. 5, 2018, she was diagnosed with leukemia at 22 years old. Quarterback Zach Wilson finished the night with 224 passing yards going 18 for 32 with three touchdowns and one interception. Baseball Baseball: Facebook ... Missouri City, Texas Iowa Western. “Honestly, when she first got on ‘The Hill,’ I didn’t like her,” her fellow All-American teammate and roommate Jessica Lucas said. Her accolades on the volleyball court were seemingly endless. The WKU Women's Volleyball Club is the club to join for all you volleyball enthusiasts! 10/11 BYU beat Western Kentucky 41-10 in a Halloween matchup at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Until the end, Cavanaugh was making the most of her life. Loved to laugh. … I will always take that through life.”. 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