cavalleri was born in milan, italy. she won the 1990 girls amateur championship and represented europe in the vagliano trophy five times between 1989 and 1997. she represented italy in the espirito santo trophy world amateur team championship in 1992 and 1996, was the 1996 world amateur individual champion, and the 1997 u.s. women's amateur champion. she won the european ladies amateur championship in 1996 and 1997.