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Clarkson University Athletics

2023 CU Volleyball Preview

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Ben Moeller

Women's Volleyball | 8/29/2023 12:00:00 PM

Although the Clarkson University Volleyball team missed out on the NCAA Tournament for just the second time since the team's first-ever appearance in 2009 last year, the team advanced to the Liberty League Championship match for the 11th consecutive season, falling in five sets to Ithaca College. Led by head coach Carol LaMarche and assistant Alessia Venturelli, the Golden Knights will be looking to earn their ninth conference title since 2012, as the team begins its 2023 campaign this weekend at DeSales.

Clarkson returns two of its four conference all-stars from a year ago in graduate student Isabelle Crow and junior Allyson Treichel, though the team will miss departed seniors Emma Baxter (4.59 digs per set, first in Liberty League) and Kristin Werdine (3.11 kills per set, first on team). Those spots open up holes for the Knights, with several prospects ready to keep Clarkson in the hunt for yet another conference championship.

The offense will run through Crow, who averaged better than nine assists per set a year ago and earned Liberty League First-Team All-Star honors as well as AVCA All-American Honorable Mention notice. However, Crow will not be alone in setting duties, as Division I transfer Anna Mayer looks to lighten the load as the team tries some different looks for opponents in 2023. Mayer has spent time at both Siena College and East Tennessee State and will be closing out her collegiate career at Clarkson, with two years of eligibility remaining. The duo could potentially provide for some matchup issues for the opposition and will be finding numerous offensive threats in the middle and on the outside.

First of those options could very well be junior Allyson Treichel, a two-time Liberty League All-Star who ranked third in the conference in hitting percentage (.287) while producing 2.53 kills and 0.67 blocks per set in the middle. Senior outside Sara Galante averaged 2.49 kills per set a year ago after returning from injury suffered in her sophomore season, and she was especially active down the stretch, producing six double-figure kill matches in the final 10 games of the year. Classmate Olivia Freer also produced solid numbers a year ago, enjoying her best matches of the year against conference foes William Smith and Ithaca, including 12 kills in the conference championship. Natalie Peacock, another senior, will likely see an increased role this year in the middle, as she accumulated solid numbers last year. Sophomores Tess Sorel and Marin Hangliter will also play key parts on offense and could see a jump in production in their second collegiate seasons.

Senior Julia Bennett, junior Annabella Regan, and freshman Emily Alexander may also see some turns in the rotation, while sophomore Emily Main is a key reserve option to play all the way around with a strong offensive and defensive game.

Both Ashley Currier and Kayla Gault will work as backup setters, though Currier carved out a valuable spot last year at the service line, and each might contribute on the back row as well.

Defense has been a strong suit for the Knights for years and that is not expected to change in 2023. Junior Abigail Spector will likely don the libero jersey, a celebrated role at Clarkson dating back to the introduction of the position nearly two decades ago, with nearly every libero since earning all-star accolades. Spector saw plenty of time as defensive specialist her first two years at Clarkson, while also contributing to the team's offense with a steady service game. Cecilia Velardi and Haley Currier also played a year ago, getting their feet wet in the back row for the Knights, while freshman Emma Cortez adds some further depth to a Clarkson defense that led the conference in digs per set a year ago and had the largest gap in aces and reception errors in the Liberty League.






 
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Players Mentioned

Emma Baxter

#2 Emma Baxter

L/DS
5' 5"
Senior
Julia Bennett

#5 Julia Bennett

MH
6' 0"
Junior
Isabelle Crow

#11 Isabelle Crow

S
5' 8"
Senior
Olivia Freer

#16 Olivia Freer

OH
6' 0"
Junior
Sara Galante

#13 Sara Galante

OH
5' 10"
Junior
Kayla Gault

#6 Kayla Gault

S
5' 6"
Sophomore
Natalie Peacock

#8 Natalie Peacock

MH/RS
5' 10"
Junior
Annabella Regan

#4 Annabella Regan

OH
5' 11"
Sophomore
Abigail Spector

#1 Abigail Spector

L/DS
5' 4"
Sophomore
Allyson Treichel

#10 Allyson Treichel

MH
5' 9"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Emma Baxter

#2 Emma Baxter

5' 5"
Senior
L/DS
Julia Bennett

#5 Julia Bennett

6' 0"
Junior
MH
Isabelle Crow

#11 Isabelle Crow

5' 8"
Senior
S
Olivia Freer

#16 Olivia Freer

6' 0"
Junior
OH
Sara Galante

#13 Sara Galante

5' 10"
Junior
OH
Kayla Gault

#6 Kayla Gault

5' 6"
Sophomore
S
Natalie Peacock

#8 Natalie Peacock

5' 10"
Junior
MH/RS
Annabella Regan

#4 Annabella Regan

5' 11"
Sophomore
OH
Abigail Spector

#1 Abigail Spector

5' 4"
Sophomore
L/DS
Allyson Treichel

#10 Allyson Treichel

5' 9"
Sophomore
MH