ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany middle blocker Danielle Tedesco will return to compete for the Great Danes for a fifth and final season.
 
"Being a Great Dane has been one of the best experiences of my life and I feel extremely blessed to be able to continue and play one last season," said Tedesco. "It's not often you're given the opportunity to compete in five collegiate seasons without a redshirt year.  I am really looking forward to getting back in the gym with my coaches and teammates to play the game I've loved for most of my life.  I have grown so much as a person and an athlete since I started here and I couldn't image finishing my career anywhere else."
 
"We are excited to have Danielle coming back for her final year," said head coach Josh Picard.  "She has been a strong presence for us in the middle and will continue to help lead the team in her final year. Danielle is a mature leader and will help the program continue to grow throughout her last year."
 
Tedesco, a Cazenovia, N.Y. native, will continue her education at UAlbany and pursue her graduate degree.
 
Tedesco earned All-Conference First Team and All-Academic honors during the spring season.  She started all 13 matches for UAlbany, ranking second on the team in total kills, kills per set, and total blocks.
 
UAlbany went 10-5 during the 2021 spring season, including 9-3 in the America East to claim the top seed and hosting rights for the conference title game.  The Great Danes fell in five sets to UMBC in the first UAlbany event of the season to permit fans to attend.