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Clarkson University Athletics

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Sophomore Meghan Edmund had 39 assists and 14 digs in her first career start at setter this past weekend. - Photo by David Cheval

Women's Volleyball November 2, 2016

CU Volleyball Preview - at Liberty League Tournament (11/4-5)

A six-game losing streak isn't exactly what the Clarkson University Volleyball team was looking for heading into the Liberty League Tournament, but the Golden Knights need only to win two matches against conference opponents this weekend to return to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight year and claim their fifth straight conference title.

The Golden Knights finished 9-3 in the Liberty League and 19-14 overall after dropping four matches this weekend at the Emory National Invitational where they faced regionally-ranked foes in each match, including eighth-ranked Emory and Susquehanna, a team that has earned votes in the national poll for most of the season. Clarkson finished in a tie for first in the conference at 9-3, but since Vassar swept the Knights in the regular season the Brewers earned the right to host the conference tournament for the first time since the league went to the four-team playoff format in 2011. Top-seeded Vassar (20-9, 9-3) will face fourth-seeded RIT (21-17, 8-4) at 7:30 pm on Friday, while second-seeded Clarkson will take on third-seeded Union (25-10, 8-4) in the opening match of the tournament at 5:00 pm on Friday.

Clarkson split with the Dutchwomen during the regular season, sweeping Union in three sets in the first meeting but falling in five in the second match after being up 2-0. As they have been all season long, Clarkson's middle hitters were dominant against Union in the two matches, especially freshman Rachel Reusch. The first-year middle struck for 23 kills with just two errors in 46 swings (.457 hitting percentage) against the Dutchwomen, and Reusch led the Liberty League in hitting percentage (.324) all season long. She was even more dominant in league play, hitting .384, topping teammate Rachael Aird by 45 percentage points (.339). Aird has been Clarkson's go-to hitter in 2016, as she averages 3.52 kills per set with 0.71 blocks per set. Aird's 36 solo blocks are the most in the conference, while her .287 hitting percentage is fifth overall. In addition to Aird and Reusch, Katrina Lane is averaging 2.00 kills from the outside, providing another consistent option for setter Jillian Saenz to locate. Saenz is second in the conference with 9.31 assists. Clarkson has been the top defensive team in the conference this year, allowing just a .146 hitting percentage overall. Against conference opponents, the Golden Knights rank first in opponents' hitting percentage (.103), second in blocks per set (1.65 bps) and second in digs per set (16.16 dps). Freshman Kate Isaksen helped considerably in that latter statistic, averaging 5.86 digs per set on the season, a figure which ranks 17th in the nation.

Union won its final four matches in the Liberty League and its final eight regular-season matches overall to vault itself into contention. What the Dutchwomen lack in size up front (only 0.82 blocks per set), they make up for in solid all-around play on defense and a diverse offense. Ally VanDoren averages 3.35 kills and 0.44 aces per set and was the only Union hitter to produce in both matches (29 kills total) against Clarkson, though her .140 hitting percentage was low in those eight sets. Emma Sprotbery, Alyssa Bonesteel and Morgan Clark each average enough kills to keep opponents honest, with Clark posting a .285 hitting percentage. Amanda Price delivers the ball at a tune of 9.13 assists per set and also contributes on defense with 2.36 digs per game. Senior Kat Moeller averages 5.79 digs per set on the season, almost exactly what she averaged against Clarkson in the eight sets this year (5.63 dps).

If Clarkson defeats Union in the conference tournament for a fourth straight year, the Knights will take on the winner of Vassar and RIT. The Brewers' outside hitters have posed a bit of a problem for Clarkson this year, as they have for most opponents. Devan Gallagher is second in the conference in kills per set (3.61) and hitting percentage (.306), with her second stat jumping to .320 in league-only contests. Freshman Jane McLeod is a leading contender for the conference's top rookie honors in 2016 as she has produced 3.58 kills per set with a .283 hitting percentage. Gabby Miller is the Brewers' third option with 2.32 kills per set. Annie MacMillan ranks first in the league in assists per set (10.00 aps) and is also among the conference leaders in aces (0.49 aps).

While Vassar has a diverse offense, RIT is anything but, as Sarah Szybist gets 35.2% of the team's attacks. However, that percentage is what makes the Tigers' offense work, as the senior outside hitter averages 5.07 kills per set with a .277 hitting percentage. She is also among her team's leaders in digs (2.88 dps), aces (0.35 aps) and blocks (0.47 bps). The good news for the Golden Knights, should they face RIT, is that they have always contained Szybist better than any other team in the league, holding her to a .173 hitting percentage in nine matches with 4.03 kills per set, far below her career average of 4.83 kills per set in her 500 other career sets. The only other RIT player averaging two kills is middle hitter Liz Wunder, who also has a .304 hitting percentage. Erin Parkinson averages 8.89 assists per set, and Maria Simonetti leads the conference in aces with a total of 63.
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Players Mentioned

Rachael Aird

#10 Rachael Aird

OH/MH/RS
6' 0"
Junior
Katrina Lane

#14 Katrina Lane

RS/OH
5' 10"
Senior
Jillian Saenz

#7 Jillian Saenz

S
5' 6"
Sophomore
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

MH
6' 2"
Freshman
Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

L/DS
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Rachael Aird

#10 Rachael Aird

6' 0"
Junior
OH/MH/RS
Katrina Lane

#14 Katrina Lane

5' 10"
Senior
RS/OH
Jillian Saenz

#7 Jillian Saenz

5' 6"
Sophomore
S
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

6' 2"
Freshman
MH
Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

5' 9"
Freshman
L/DS