Alyssa Cavanaugh
Alyssa Cavanaugh was born on May 7, 1996, to Leslie and Eric Cavanaugh. The youngest of three children, she was the beloved little sister to her older brothers, Taylor and Ben. Raised in a close-knit family, Alyssa grew up in Louisville, where her early life was filled with laughter, love, and an unmistakable passion for volleyball.
She began her education at St. Martha Catholic School, where she also first took the court. From an early age, Alyssa’s love for volleyball was undeniable. Whether she was convincing her family to “bump and set” in the driveway or practicing long after everyone else had gone inside, her enthusiasm for the sport was constant. She played 6 years at St. Martha and joined the competitive club circuit with KIVA at the age of 11, where her talent and determination quickly set her apart.
Alyssa began high school at Assumption High School in 2010, a school renowned for its volleyball tradition. She made the freshman team her first year and moved up to junior varsity as a sophomore. Just a few weeks into that season, her talent was undeniable—she was pulled up to the varsity team, where she would become a dominant force. Over the next three years, Alyssa helped lead AHS to three consecutive Kentucky State Championships. In 2025 Assumption High School announced Alyssa would be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Despite standing only 5’10”—not considered particularly tall by volleyball standards—Alyssa’s athleticism was awe-inspiring. Her explosive power and unmatched vertical leap earned her descriptions like “jumping out of the gym,” “touching the clouds,” and “a hammer for an arm.” Her physical stature may have seemed unassuming, but her presence on the court was anything but. Her fierce competitiveness earned her numerous tournament MVP awards and spots on multiple All-Tournament teams. Nationally ranked during her senior year, she recorded 437 kills with a 4.16% hitting percentage and 82 total blocks, including an impressive 54 solo blocks.
In December 2013, Alyssa signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at Western Kentucky University. There, she would go on to leave an extraordinary legacy. Over her four-year career, she was a four-time All-American and four-time First Team All-Conference selection. She was named Conference Player of the Year twice and earned the title of WKU’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2017-2018. Alyssa was just as committed off the court, earning recognition on the Dean’s List and being named to the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Just as she was preparing to begin a professional volleyball career overseas, Alyssa’s life took a sudden turn. In September 2018, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia—a devastating blow just months after her college graduation. She faced her diagnosis with the same grit and grace she had shown on the volleyball court. For almost two and a half years, Alyssa fought courageously, inspiring all who knew her with her strength and resilience.
On December 25, 2020, Alyssa Cavanaugh passed away, surrounded by the love of her family. She was just 24 years old.
Her legacy, however, continues to shine. In June 2021, Conference USA announced that the league’s Volleyball Player of the Year award would be renamed the Alyssa Cavanaugh Player of the Year Award, ensuring her name would forever be associated with excellence and heart in collegiate volleyball. Two years later, in July 2023, Alyssa was inducted into the Conference USA Hall of Fame, becoming the first Western Kentucky University athlete ever to receive this prestigious honor. Also in 2023, WKU announced the renaming of the annual WKU Volleyball Invitational to the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic.
Alyssa’s life, though far too short, was marked by extraordinary achievement, unwavering dedication, and a deep love for her family, teammates, and the game she lived for. Her legacy continues to inspire young athletes and the many lives she touched with her spirit, determination, and joy. To honor her memory, friends and family established the Alyssa Cavanaugh Scholarship Fund. Through this fund, Alyssa’s legacy lives on in perpetuity.