Rutgers-Newark Athletics

Denise Cadmus Saywack teamed with fellow inductee Gabriela Tacuri to comprise one of the most potent attack duos in Rutgers-Newark and New Jersey Athletic Conference history.

From helping the Scarlet Raiders to an NJAC Championship as a freshman to being named to the AVCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team as a senior, the left-hander was a dominant outside hitter with solid all-around skills.

The Wood-Ridge native finished her career with Raider records for total blocks (87). She ranked second in the R-N books in points (1232.5), kills (987) and service aces (201).

She led the 1992 Bob Bertucci-coached Rutgers-Newark team in kills (207), attack percentage (.280) and blocks (18 solos and 28 assists) to start off her career. The Raiders went 21-7 overall and 5-1 during the conference regular season to ignite an impressive four-year run.

Behind Cadmus and Tacuri, the Raiders went 78-39 overall with a sparkling 20-4 mark in NJAC matches. During their junior and senior seasons, Rutgers-Newark fell in the NJAC finals to outstanding Kean squads and earned trips to the ECAC South Championship playoffs - winning their opening match each time.

Cadmus was a first team All-NJAC selection as a sophomore and senior, earning second team notice as a junior. She was named the Rutgers-Newark Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a senior.

Bertucci was named the NJAC Coach of the Year in his final season at the helm and his replacement, Ron Larsen, would receive the same award following Camdus’ superlative senior season.

After earning a bachelor of arts in geological sciences at Rutgers-Newark, Cadmus completed a master of science in environomental science at the University in 2001.

She works as an environmental scientist in Florida.