Skip To Main Content

Scoreboard

Clarkson University Athletics

Huddlevb2016

Women's Volleyball August 28, 2017

2017 Clarkson Volleyball Preview

For as long as the Liberty League has run pre-season polls, the Clarkson University Volleyball team has garnered first place votes, and that was no different in the 2017 prognostication as the Golden Knights earned two nods for the top spot and are tabbed second in the eight-team league according to the coaches' selections.

Conference newcomer Ithaca was picked first overall with five first place votes and a total of 46 points. Clarkson was second with two first place votes and 42 total points, while Vassar was third with 41 points and one first place selection. The rest of the league was far behind the top three with Union (28), RIT (25), Skidmore (19), St. Lawrence (16) and Bard (7) rounding out the rankings.

The Golden Knights graduated just two players from a team that reached the NCAA Tournament for an eighth straight year and won the Liberty League title for a fifth consecutive season. Clarkson is still a fairly young team with just two seniors on the team. Rachael Aird is looking to finish off a stellar career in 2017 and if she comes close to the numbers she posted in her junior campaign, Clarkson is sure to have a great deal of success. The middle hitter posted 504 kills in 37 matches last year, averaging 3.60 kills per set with a .290 hitting percentage. That was nearly double what sophomore Rachel Reusch was able to produce (264 kills, 2.28 per set, .332 hitting percentage) as the second place hitter for the Knights, though Reusch did miss six matches in mid-season. Regardless, the duo each gained selections as Liberty League First-Team All-Stars and will once again be a focal points of Clarkson's offense.

On the outside, Clarkson will have a variety of options among its returning players. Sophomore Maddie Bredehoeft (1.62 kps) and junior Kendall Cheval (0.95 kps) each produced solid numbers in their first seasons as collegiate hitters, and Cheval's classmate Meghan Edmund will be added to the mix. Junior Savannah Peters will once again see time in the middle and on the rightside, where she provides a solid block, and sophomore Delaney Harrison could challenge for playing time on the rightside as well.

In her first season as full-time setter, junior Jillian Saenz averaged 9.64 assists per set and also produced a team-high 39 aces. Saenz led the team to a .183 hitting percentage, which ranked third in the conference in 2016.

Clarkson led the conference in digs last year (18.13 per set) thanks in large part to sophomore Kate Isaksen. The first-year libero was other-worldly at times, setting a single-season mark for total digs (835) and digs per set (5.96), ranking second nationally with her accumulation and 13th in her per set rate. Along with senior Francesca Barajas, several of the outside hitters could join Isaksen on the back row to keep the Clarkson defense at a high level.

The Golden Knights added five newcomers to the roster for 2017, filling needs at every position. Amanda Collins will likely see some time at setter and Grace Mayer could add production in the back row as a defensive specialist. Clarkson also added three offensive players to the mix. Gillian Kurtic is the tallest player on the roster as 6-3 and will see time in the middle and on the rightside, while both Aashlyn Sulaica and Lilianna Mason could also add to the team's offense.




 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Rachael Aird

#10 Rachael Aird

MH
6' 0"
Senior
Francesca Barajas

#9 Francesca Barajas

DS
5' 7"
Senior
Maddie Bredehoeft

#5 Maddie Bredehoeft

OH/DS
5' 9"
Sophomore
Kendall Cheval

#11 Kendall Cheval

OH/DS
5' 6"
Junior
Meghan Edmund

#2 Meghan Edmund

OH/DS
5' 6"
Junior
Delaney Harrison

#15 Delaney Harrison

RS
6' 1"
Sophomore
Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

L
5' 9"
Sophomore
Savannah Peters

#16 Savannah Peters

MH/RS
5' 11"
Junior
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

MH
6' 2"
Sophomore
Jillian Saenz

#7 Jillian Saenz

S
5' 6"
Junior
Grace Mayer

#1 Grace Mayer

DS
5' 1"
Freshman
Amanda Collins

#4 Amanda Collins

S
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Rachael Aird

#10 Rachael Aird

6' 0"
Senior
MH
Francesca Barajas

#9 Francesca Barajas

5' 7"
Senior
DS
Maddie Bredehoeft

#5 Maddie Bredehoeft

5' 9"
Sophomore
OH/DS
Kendall Cheval

#11 Kendall Cheval

5' 6"
Junior
OH/DS
Meghan Edmund

#2 Meghan Edmund

5' 6"
Junior
OH/DS
Delaney Harrison

#15 Delaney Harrison

6' 1"
Sophomore
RS
Kate Isaksen

#17 Kate Isaksen

5' 9"
Sophomore
L
Savannah Peters

#16 Savannah Peters

5' 11"
Junior
MH/RS
Rachel Reusch

#12 Rachel Reusch

6' 2"
Sophomore
MH
Jillian Saenz

#7 Jillian Saenz

5' 6"
Junior
S
Grace Mayer

#1 Grace Mayer

5' 1"
Freshman
DS
Amanda Collins

#4 Amanda Collins

5' 9"
Freshman
S