2006: Despite battling a season-long back injury, appeared in 25 matches,
and recorded three starts on the outside...collected 91 kills (1.57 kpg) on the
season...had two double-digit kill matches, including a 13-kill effort in a four-game win
over Drake (Sept. 30)...recorded 126 digs (2.17 dpg)...tallied four double-digit dig
performances, including a season-best 20 digs in Illinois State's five-game win over
UT-San-Antonio (Sept. 1)...Down the stretch of the season, was substituted in for her
serving ability...had three aces in an ISU sweep at Bradley (Nov. 10).
2005: Began her Division I college career with 14 kills vs. No. 19
Illinois (8/26) ... had double-digit kills in five matches, including back-to-back matches
against Northern Illinois (10/25) and Evansville (10/28) with 11 in each ... her
career-high 23 digs vs. Evansville (10/28) combined with Ashley Grubb's 27 to give that duo
50 of ISU's 89 digs in the win over UE ... had nine kills, 15 digs and four blocks in
Redbirds' State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament win over Bradley (11/25).
Junior College: 2004 Junior College All-American and Regional Player of
the Year ... led team in kills ... 2004 First Team All-Region averaged 4.2 kills and 5.0
digs per game for 2004 Illinois Central College team which went 37-8, won its regional and
finished 5th at NJCAA Finals ... holds team records for season and career kills ... No. 2
in career aces with 157, just ahead of former ICC and ISU star Keely Zimmerman (1990-93)
... junior college coach was NJCAA Hall of Famer Sue Sinclair ... junior college teammate
of current Redbird teammate Kelly Waterstraat.
High School/Club: Club team was second in Brazilian National Tournament
1998 and 1999 ... club team was third in Brazilian National Tournament 2000 and 2002 ...
played one season (2002) at Northview HS in Indiana ... voted best blocker and best hitter
on her team ... second team All-Conference ... high school coach: Laura Pfeifer.
Personal: Major is international business ... daughter of Manoel and
Katia DaCunha with brothers Leonardo, Joao Paulo ... Manoela Veloso Vieira DaCunha, born
5-9-84 in Recife, Brazil ... name pronounced mon-WAY-lah da KOON-yah.
