Welcome to the NCAA Regional - Potsdam, New York webpage. Below is information regarding the weekend and the schedule for this weekend's matches.
2015 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships Program -
- Interactive Program
2015 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships Bracket
- 2015 Selection Show (Video)
- NCAA DIII Women's Volleyball Committee Selects Championship Field
- PDF
- Interactive
Potsdam, New York Regional All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Player - Kirstie Shurie (Clarkson University)
Rachael Aird (Clarkson University)
Lauren Hutchinson (Clarkson University)
Lauren Holt (Springfield College)
Kayleigh Helgesen (Springfield College)
Joelle Goldstein (Ithaca College)
Noelle Poloncarz (College at Brockport)
Schedule:
Sunday
Match 7 (Regional Finals): 2:00 pm
BOX SCORE: Clarkson 3, Springfield 0
Set 1: Clarkson 25, Springfield 23
Set 2: Clarkson 25, Springfield 14
Set 3: Clarkson 25, Springfield 18
Postgame Press Conference Video
Game Story: With a strong effort from the service line and excellent passing, Clarkson University was able to advance past Springfield College in three sets to claim the Potsdam, NY Regional title of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Knights needed to battle through the first set, but enjoyed lopsided wins in the final two sets (25-23, 25-14, 25-18).
In the first set, Clarkson and Springfield exchanged points for the first half of the game, with neither team able to gain more than a two-point advantage until a kill from Aishvina Arasu gave Clarkson a little breathing room (19-16). An ace Kirstie Shurie and a hitting error pushed the advantage to five points, but Springfield closed the gap and tied the set up at 23-23 with block assists from Jennifer Hurwitz and Lauren Holt. Clarkson would not be denied, however, as a hitting error and an emphatic kill from Rachael Aird ended the set in Clarkson's favor.
For the second straight day, Clarkson utilized a strong run from a server to turn a deficit into a solid lead early in a set. Clarkson trailed by two points (6-4) in the early going, but reclaimed the serve on an error and then Kirstie Shurie picked up a pair of aces and kept the Pride off balance and out of sync offensively, pushing the Knights to an 11-6 lead. Though Springfield would stop that rally momentarily, Clarkson gained a double-digit advantage (19-9) and cruised to a double-figure win.
Set three was close in the early going as the two teams were tied all the way up to 13-13. Clarkson scored four straight points and then extended its lead to 19-14 when Arasu delivered another kill. A kill from Kirstie Shurie and then block assists by Shurie and Danielle Farabee gave Clarkson a six-point lead (22-16) late, and the Knights tacked on points with kills from Lauren Hutchinson and Arasu. A kill by Springfield's Lauren Holt delayed the inevitable at 24-18, and Victoria Kirkemo closed the set and the match out with her 12th kill of the day.
Clarkson held Springfield, one of the top offenses in the nation, to a .106 hitting percentage and nearly doubled the Pride's kill total (46-24). The Pride were able to deny the Knights with eight blocks, but Clarkson still hit .241 in the match. The Regional's Most Outstanding Player Kirstie Shurie had another double-double with 41 assists and 11 digs and also had a team-high four aces. The senior setter found plenty of options around the court on offense, with Kirkemo leading the way with 12 kills. Rachael Aird had the highest hitting percentage at .588 (11-1-17) and Arasu tied with 11 kills as well. Lauren Hutchinson produced eight kills on 20 swings with just two miscues to hit .300. Clarkson's defense was also on with 52 digs as Kirkemo and Shurie tied for the team lead with 11 and freshman libero Tara Stilwell added in eight. Savannah Peter and Sierra Rhoades also contributed two aces each. Springfield's Lauren Holt was virtually unstoppable with seven kills on eight swings, but the Pride were out of system enough to keep her from getting many swings. Elise Brogan hit .273 with seven kills and an error in 22 swings, but no other Springfield player recorded more than three kills. Holt also had five blocks, with two solo efforts, and Kayleigh Helgesen had four block assists. Hannah Lozano had nine digs on defense and Kerry Purcell scored three aces.
#2 Springfield College Pride (2015 Record: 31-3; 11th NCAA Appearance, Sixth Straight)
(New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Semifinalists - Pool C At-Large Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
vs.
#1 Clarkson University Golden Knights (2015 Record: 29-8; Seventh NCAA Appearance, Seventh Straight)
(Liberty League Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule Game Notes (PDF)
Saturday
Match 5 (Regional Semifinals): 2:30 pm
BOX SCORE: Springfield 3, Brockport 0
Set 1: Springfield 25, Brockport 20
Set 2: Springfield 25, Brockport 21
Set 3: Springfield 25, Brockport 23
Postgame Press Conference video
Game Recap: In a game that swung on the efforts of the middle hitters, Springfield College came out on top with a three-set win over Brockport in the Potsdam, NY Regional Semifinal on Saturday afternoon to advance to Sunday's Regional Final and a potential trip to the NCAA Division III Volleyball Quarterfinals.
The first set was comfortably in Springfield's hands for the majority of the time and the Pride completed a 25-20 win, hlding at least a three-point lead from 17-14 on. The second and third sets were less convincing wins for the Pride as each time Brockport held a late lead only to see it lost in the waning points. In set two Brockport was up by three points (17-14) and still maintained a two-point advantage down the stretch after a kill from Brianna Richardson made it 21-19. However, Springfield scored the final six points of the set, enjoying block assists on two occasions, with Elise Brogan contributing to both. A hitting error put the game on the Pride's side as they went up 2-0.
The third set once again saw the Golden Eagles edge out in front near the midway point and Brockport led by as many as five late in the set (22-17). Springfield wouldn't go quietly, though, with block assists from Kelsey McGayhey and Lauren Holt delivering the tying point (22-22). Brockport went back up by a point at 23-22 on a kill from Kayla Barber, but Springfield tied the match on a kill from McGayhey and then capitalized on two errors to take the final set.
Springfield middle hitters enjoyed impressive performances on offense and defense, with Elise Brogan hitting .625 (5-0-8) with five block assists and Lauren Holt hitting .500 (8-2-12) with five block assists. Kayleigh Helgeson also was just below .500 with a 7-1-14 line with four block assist and Jennifer Hurwitz added six kills for the Pride. Molly Giannattasio and Marnae Mawdsley combined for 32 assists (19-13) and Hannah Lozano produced 13 digs. For Brockport, Brianna Richardson went 10-3-17 from the middle and Ashley Capone also added nine kills. Kayla Barber and Sam Holdrdedge each delivered nine kills from the outside, with Noelle Poloncarz running the offense to the tune of 32 assists. Kathleen Irwin had 17 digs.
#3 The College at Brockport Golden Eagles (2015 Record: 34-1; Ninth NCAA Appearance, First Since 2006)
(State University of New York Athletic Conference Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
vs.
#2 Springfield College Pride (2015 Record: 30-3; 11th NCAA Appearance, Sixth Straight)
(New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Semifinalists - Pool C At-Large Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
Match 6 (Regional Semifinals): 5:00 pm
Results: Clarkson 3, Ithaca 1
Set 1: Ithaca 25, Clarkson 23
Set 2: Clarkson 25, Ithaca 23
Set 3: Clarkson 25, Ithaca 22
Set 4: Clarkson 25, Ithaca 20
Postgame Press Conference video
Game Story: For the first time all weekend, a match wasn't limited to three sets as Ithaca College put the New York Region on notice with a strong effort against the top seed Clarkson University, but the Golden Knights were able to eek out a four-set win against Ithaca to advance to the Potsdam, NY Regional Finals.
Clarkson came out strong in the first set and appeared ready to blow Ithaca right out of the gym with a 14-4 lead, but the Bombers chipped away and rallied all the way back to tie the score at 21-21. The score was once again tied up at 22-22, but Ithaca got a pair of kills from Amanda Cerruti and closed out the set with a kill from Joelle Goldstein to complete the improbable comeback. The second set was the complete opposite as it was Ithaca that found itself up by six points late (21-15), but the Golden Knights likewise didn't panic thanks to kills from Lauren Hutchinson that allowed the set to get tied up at 23-23. An ace by Tara Stilwell and a kill from Rachael Aird finished off the set for Clarkson.
The third set of the match was all about offense as the two teams went back and forth, trading kills on quick attacks. Neither team gained much of a foothold until Clarkson turned a 16-16 tie into a four-point lead (20-16). Up by five after an ace from Kirstie Shurie (23-18), Ithaca scored four of the next five points to tighten thins up but a kill from Hutchinson was the closer, giving the Knights a 2-1 advantage. The fourth set was a game of runs as Rachael Aird had a strong stretch from the servince line with four straight aces, but the Bombers counteracted that run with a 9-2 momentum shift to take a 17-13 lead. That was quickly altered as well as Clarkson scored five straight points to reclaim the lead at 18-17. Although the two teams exchanged points for a while, Clarkson scored the final five, highlighted by a pair of kills from Aishvina Arasu that changed the structure of the match. The Knights closed things out as Aird added a sixth ace to her performance.
Aird had 10 kills, six aces and five total blocks, including two solo efforts, while Hutchinson hit .360 (11-2-25) and Arasu had a team-best 17 kills. Kirstie Shurie was a dynamic player on offense and defense with 45 assists and 12 digs, while Tara Stilwell led the way with 13 digs. For Ithaca, Joelle Goldstein had a double-double with 20 kills and 10 digs, taking 51 swings over the course of the match. Amanda Cerruti tossed in seven kills and six block assists and Katie Evans also had six total blocks. Kayla Gromen produced 37 assists and 10 digs while Dylan Gawinski-Stern had 14 digs.
#4 Ithaca College Bombers (2015 Record: 31-4; 18th NCAA Appearance, First Since 2010)
(Empire 8 Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
vs.
#1 Clarkson University Golden Knights (2015 Record: 28-8; Seventh NCAA Appearance, Seventh Straight)
(Liberty League Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule Game Notes (PDF)
Friday's Results
Match 1 (First Round): 12:30 pm
BOX SCORE: Springfield 3, Mount Saint Vincent 0
Set 1: Springfield 25, Mount Saint Vincent 8
Set 2: Springfield 25, Mount Saint Vincent 13
Set 3: Springfield 25, Mount Saint Vincent 16
Postgame Press Conference video
Game Story: Springfield's sheer size and several years of experience in the NCAA Tournament gave them an advantage against first-timers Mount Saint Vincent, and the Pride came away with a three-set sweep in the first round of the Potsdam, NY Regional of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship Tournament.
The Pride showed dominance at the net on both offense and defense, hitting .519 for the match and producing 10 team blocks. In the first set the Pride had doubled up the Dolpins in the early going (10-5), but the team went on an even more impressive run with a 12-1 stretch that put the first set well out of reach for Mount Saint Vincent. The same occurred in the second set, as Springfield led 7-5 in the early going and then scored 13 of the next 15 points to gain a double-digit advantage, one which the team would never relinquish. In the third and final set, though they fell behind early, the Dolphins played loose and had their best performance of the match, hitting .172 with 10 kills. That wasn't enough to overcome the 19 kills that the Pride recorded in the set, as Springfield hit .600 in the final game (19-1-30).
Several Springfield hitters had dominant efforts, including Kelsey McGayhey (10-0-17), Lauren Holt (10-0-13) and Kayleigh Helgesen (11-1-14). The team's two setters also split the duties well with Marnae Mawdsley producing 20 assists and Molly Giannattasio recording 17. Holt and Elise Brogan also had five total blocks each. For Mount Saint Vincent, Ashleigh Scozzari had a match-high 12 kills while Erika Moncada chipped in four more.
#7 College of Mount Saint Vincens Dolphins (2015 Record: 17-13; First NCAA Appearance)
(Skyline Conference Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
vs.
#2 Springfield College Pride (2015 Record: 29-3; 11th NCAA Appearance, Sixth Straight)
(New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Semifinalists - Pool C At-Large Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
Match 2 (First Round): 3:00 pm
BOX SCORE: Brockport 3, Framingham State 0
Set 1: Brockport 25, Framingham State 19
Set 2: Brockport 25, Framingham State 21
Set 3: Brockport 25, Framingham State 22
Postgame Press Conference video 
Game Story: Both Brockport and Framingham State stung the ball at strong clips (.350 and .303, respectively), but it was the Golden Eagles that had more answers defensively as Brockport advanced to the Potsdam, New York Regional Semifinal on Saturday against Springfield College.
In the first two sets, the Golden Eagles jumped out to modest leads in the early going and each time were able to hold off the late charge of the Rams because of solid hitting percentages (.293, .295), but ironically it was the third set in which they hit .474 that they trailed. That was because Framingham State, too, held its best for last, hitting .378 with just a single error in what proved to be the final game. Brockport scored the first point of the third set, but the Rams quickly turned the tables and held at least a one-point lead all the way up to the 13-13 mark, thanks to strong performances on the outside from Danielle Girard and Alycia Rackliffe. The Rams pushed their advantage to three points in that third set and looked poised to force a fourth game, but a Brockport timeout halted the momentum and the Golden Eagles rallied to tie the score at 20-20 and 21-21. Brockport then scored four of the final five points. Senior middle hitter Ashley Capone produced four of her 12 kills in the match in Brockport's final five points to assure the Golden Eagles of a three-set win.
Brockport hit .350 overall on 55 kills and 12 errors in 123 swings, with Capone (12-0-24), Kayla Barber (17-6-37) and Sam Holdredge (11-3-26) taking the majority of Noelle Poloncarz's 51 assists. Kathleen Irwin delivered 21 digs and Holdredge contributed 12 more digs, while Jamie Schlesinger also tossed in eight kills with only one error in 18 attempts. For the Rams, Alycia Rackliffe hit .372 (17-1-43) and Girard nearly had a double-double with an 8-0-21 effort on the outside to go along with team-bests of 16 digs and three aces. Sarah Leonard also produced 32 assists while running the offense.
#6 Framingham State Rams (2015 Record: 25-8; Third NCAA Appearance, Second Straight)
(Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule Game Notes (PDF)
vs.
#3 The College at Brockport Golden Eagles (2015 Record: 33-1; Ninth NCAA Appearance, First Since 2006)
(State University of New York Athletic Conference Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
Match 3 (First Round): 5:30 pm
BOX SCORE: Ithaca 3, Williams 0
Set 1: Ithaca 25, Williams 21
Set 2: Ithaca 25, Williams 17
Set 3: Ithaca 25, Williams 20
Postgame Press Conference video
Game Story: Joelle Goldstein struck for 15 kills in a strong effort from the outside as Ithaca ousted Williams College, a NCAA Division III Quarterfinalist in 2014, from the Potsdam, NY Regional in three straight sets.
Though Williams delivered 13 kills in the first set, the Ephs seemed to be on their heels from the very beginning of the match. After Ithaca watched a three-point lead evaporate into a 7-7 tie, the Bombers were able to rediscover the momentum, especially late in the set, when a 17-14 edge pushed out to seven (22-15) on an ace by Hailey Adler. From there, Ithaca was able to hold on for a four-point win, and used that momentum to start the second set off with six straight points. The Ephs would never recover, trimming the lead to three on a couple of occasions late in the set, but the Bombers found another gear to claim an eight-point win, utilizing three kills from Goldstein in their final four points.
In the third set, the situation remain unchanged as the Bombers played with plenty of energy, rallying from an early deficit and then going on a 8-2 run to doubleup the Ephs (14-7). The lead would expand to as many as nine (22-13) after an Ithaca ace, but the Ephs wouldn't go away quietly, scoring seven of the next nine points before finally succumbing to a three-set sweep.
Goldstein produced 15 kills and also added in eight digs, while Katie Evans (9-2-14) and Amanda Cerruti (4-0-10) delivered strong performances in the middle for Ithaca. Cerruti also chipped in five block assists. Kayla Gromen had three kills, six digs, and a pair of blocks to go along with her 31 assists for the Bombers. Ally Ostrow led the way for Williams with eight kills and 10 digs, and Tori Jasuta contributed eight kills, but also had eight errors. Ryan Farley had 23 assists, four kills and six digs.
#5 Williams College Ephs (2015 Record: 18-10; 13th NCAA Appearance; Third Straight)
(New England Small College Athletic Conference Finalist - Pool C At-Large Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
vs.
#4 Ithaca College Bombers (2015 Record: 30-4; 18th NCAA Appearance, First Since 2010)
(Empire 8 Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
Match 4 (First Round): 8:00 pm
BOX SCORE: Clarkson 3, Colby-Sawyer 0
Set 1: Clarkson 25, Colby-Sawyer 16
Set 2: Clarkson 25, Colby-Sawyer 15
Set 3: Clarkson 25, Colby-Sawyer 13
Postgame Press Conference video
Game Story: Top-seeded Clarkson came out flat in its match against Colby-Sawyer, but a strong home crowd and some quick adjustments allowed the Golden Knights to sweep the Chargers in the Potsdam, NY Regional opening round on Friday evening.
Colby-Sawyer came out of the gates with no fear and kept the Golden Knights uncomforable in the early going, forcing early timeouts (7-2 and 12-5). Whatever was said during the second timeout seemed to do the trick, though, as Clarkson scored 20 of the next 24 points in the set to close with a near double-digit win. The majority of those points came on the offensive as Colby-Sawyer wasn't ready to give up quite so easily. The second set saw Clarkson trail early as well (6-3), but once again the Golden Knights discovered the extra offense when necessary, including a pair of kills from Victoria Kirkemo which ended the second set. The third set was a change of pace for the Knights as they led throughout, jumping out to a 10-3 lead in the early going and cruising to a double-digit win with five straight points to close out the set, including two aces from Tara Stilwell and another ending kill from Kirkemo.
The Golden Knights enjoyed a balanced offensive effort, led by Kirkemo's nine kills (9-2-20). Middle hitters Rachael Aird (8-2-13) and Danielle Farabee (81-16) were even more efficient, combining for a .448 hitting percentage. Lauren Hutchinson also delivered seven kills and a .316 hitting percentage from the rightside as setter Kirstie Shurie found all of her options with 33 assists. Stilwell posted just six digs in the back row, mostly getting the offense going on overpasses, but she came through with five aces to help Clarkson switch the match from the service line. Kelsey McCulley led Colby-Sawyer with five kills, including four in an impressive first set, Gabrielle Rodriguez had 10 digs. Lexi Strong also had nine digs and a pair of aces for the Chargers.
#8 Colby-Sawyer College Chargers (2015 Record: 12-24; Eighth NCAA Appearance, Fifth Straight)
(North Atlantic Conference Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule
vs.
#1 Clarkson University Golden Knights (2015 Record: 27-8; Seventh NCAA Appearance, Seventh Straight)
(Liberty League Champions - Automatic Bid)
Roster Stats Schedule Game Notes (PDF)
LIVE STATS - In-game statistics will be provided for all matches and final box scores will be attached to stories below immediately following the conclusion of each match.
SOCIAL MEDIA - Single set results will be posted on Twitter and also on this webpage as information is available over the weekend. Click here to follow ClarksonAthletics @ClarksonUSports. In addition to following game scores and other information in the Potsdam Regional, you can check in all of the other action at the following:
NCAA Division III Twitter: @NCAADIII (#NCAAD3)
NCAA Division III Volleyball: #d3vb
NCAA Division III Facebook: facebook.com/NCAADIII
TICKETS - Single-session tickets will be available at the site of competition, $6 for adults, $4 for students, $3 for children, and all-session passes are $12 for adults, $10 for students, $7 for children.
WEBCASTING- NCAA Volleyball Regional webcasting will be available for all matches, and should be available 10 minutes prior to the start of each match. In addition to the FREE webstreaming this weekend, live play-by-play should be available for all matches.
