Reusch Unstoppable in Three-Set Sweep for Knights

By: October 11, 2019

Women's Volleyball | 10/11/2019 8:28:00 PM

Box Score

Saratoga Springs, NY – On a night when the offense and service game was not particularly sharp due to a long layoff, senior Rachel Reusch carried the offensive load for the Clarkson University Volleyball team as she recorded 18 kills in a three-set sweep (25-21, 25-23, 25-13) of Skidmore College on Friday night.

Reusch was dominant throughout, recording five kills in each of the first two sets before dominating Skidmore with eight kills in set number three. Clarkson improved to 15-3 overall and 3-0 in the Liberty League with the victory, while the Thoroughbreds dropped to 10-9 and 2-2. The Golden Knights will face Union College on Saturday afternoon.

In the opening set, Skidmore jumped out to an early lead, but three straight aces by freshman Kristin Werdine gave Clarkson the lead the good. Despite the deficit, the Thoroughbreds challenged Clarkson late in the set, coming within two points on four different occasions. However, Clarkson had an answer offensively each time, as Gillian Kurtic scored two kills, Rachel Reusch notched a kill, and Kristin Werdine came through with a huge kill late to help the Knights take the opener.

Game two saw Clarkson jump out to an early lead, but the Golden Knights allowed Skidmore to hang around with hitting errors and service errors, giving the Thoroughbreds five of their first six points on unforced miscues. Clarkson continued to lead until the midway point of the set, as Skidmore's offense started rolling and earned several two point leads. However, it was the Thoroughbreds' mistakes that cost them the set. Up 23-21 late, Skidmore suffered a service error and two unforced attack errors, putting Clarkson up one. An ace by Kristin Werdine gave the Knights the second set, 25-23.

Set number three was all Rachel Reusch. Skidmore claimed the first three points, but Reusch had streaks of invincibility in the set. She delivered five kills in a stretch of just eight points and finished with a line of hitting at 8-1-11 in the final game as the Knights nearly doubled up Skidmore in set three.

Reusch finished with 18 kills and just a single error on 29 attacks. Gillian Kurtic added eight kills and Kristin Werdine produced six kills, six aces and 14 digs. Kate Isaksen chipped in 18 digs and Emma Baxter also added 10 digs while Isabelle Crow ran the offense with 34 assists. For Skidmore, Katy Ehnstrom notched eight kills, Lauren Wolters produced 18 assists and eight digs, and Frida Anguiano notched 16 digs.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Kate Isaksen: L; 5' 10"; Senior

#14 Gillian Kurtic: MH/RS; 6' 3"; Junior

#12 Rachel Reusch: MH; 6' 2"; Senior

#2 Emma Baxter: L/DS; 5' 5"; Freshman

#11 Isabelle Crow: S; 5' 8"; Freshman

#16 Kristin Werdine: OH; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#17 Kate Isaksen
: 5' 10"; Senior
: L

#14 Gillian Kurtic
: 6' 3"; Junior
: MH/RS

#12 Rachel Reusch
: 6' 2"; Senior
: MH

#2 Emma Baxter
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: L/DS

#11 Isabelle Crow
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: S

#16 Kristin Werdine
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: OH