Knights Sweep Plattsburgh, Come From Behind for Win Against St. John Fisher

Women's Volleyball | 9/10/2021 10:52:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Potsdam, NY – Back in game play on its home floor for the first time since the 2019 NCAA Regional, the Clarkson University Volleyball team continued its winning ways in Potsdam, sweeping Plattsburgh State (25-9, 25-17, 25-12) and then beating St. John Fisher College in four (28-30, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20) Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights moved to 4-3 on the season, while Plattsburgh fell to 3-2 and St. John Fisher dropped to 3-3. Clarkson will host Oswego State and Oneonta State on Saturday afternoon to close out its home tournament.

In the opener against Plattsburgh State, the Knights controlled the pace on both sides of the ball, striking for 15 kills in the first set and holding the Cardinals to just three. Plattsburgh would get going a little offensively in the next two sets, but they never truly challenged the Golden Knights except for the middle set. The Cardinals got to within three late (20-17), but the Knights closed things out with five straight points on kills from Megan McEwen, Sara Galante, Gillian Kurtic, and Olivia Freer, with Emma Baxter also serving an ace.

Kurtic hit over .700 in the match, finishing with 14 kills against no errors on 19 swings, while Sara Galante added 12 kills and Olivia Freer contributed eight kills. Emma Baxter chipped in 15 digs, seven assists, and four aces, and Isabelle Crow had 37 assists, 14 digs, and three more aces. Kristin Werdine also finished with 14 digs.

The first set against St. John Fisher was a back-and-forth battle. The Cardinals raced out ahead, but Clarkson chipped away and finally tied the set near the midway point at 13-13. That was the first of 15 ties in the set, but the Cardinals scored the final three points, including two kills from Alea Steigerwald. Clarkson regrouped in the set and led by as many as eight on three occasions and kept the Cardinals at a safe distance. The same situation occurred in the third set, as the Knights edged out by more and more, again leading by eight two different times. This set, however, St. John Fisher clawed back into the game and put pressure on the Green and Gold, trimming the margin to as few as two (24-22) before Olivia Freer dropped in a kill to end the set. Set four was much like the second and third, though Clarkson never enjoyed a significant advantage, mostly keeping its lead hovering near four points.

Isabelle Crow closed out the match with 46 assists and 12 digs, one of four Clarkson players to reach double figures in the latter category. Emma Baxter (30 digs), Kristin Werdine (19 digs), and Sara Galante (13 digs) also pushed past 10 on defense. Galante led the team with 15 kills and was followed by Olivia Freer (11 kills) and Allyson Treichel (11 kills). Megan McEwen also added four blocks, with one solo effort and three block assists.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#16 Olivia Freer: OH; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#13 Sara Galante: OH; 5' 10"; Sophomore

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

#10 Megan McEwen: MH; 6' 3"; Senior

#12 Kristin Werdine: OH; 5' 8"; Junior

#7 Allyson Treichel: MH; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#16 Olivia Freer
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH

#13 Sara Galante
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: OH

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

#10 Megan McEwen
: 6' 3"; Senior
: MH

#12 Kristin Werdine
: 5' 8"; Junior
: OH

#7 Allyson Treichel
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: MH