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Clarkson University Athletics

2022 CU Volleyball Preview

2022SRVBCaptains

Women's Volleyball | 8/29/2022 11:00:00 AM

Despite going into the conference tournament as the third seed in November 2021, the Clarkson University Volleyball team left with the championship plaque for the eighth time in nine seasons. The Golden Knights will be looking to continue their run of excellence in both the Liberty League and in the New York Region with the start of the 2022 season, which begins the first weekend of September in Plattsburgh.

The Green and Gold lost a handful of contributors from last year's team, including AVCA All-American Honorable Mention Gillian Kurtic, but the Knights bring back four conference all-stars from a season ago and possess an excellent balance of veterans and standout newcomers for 2022. Clarkson is the lone Liberty League team to be receiving votes in the AVCA Division III Preseason Coaches' Poll and is one of only three teams in New York (along with NYU and Cortland State) to gain mention in the AVCA poll.

The Golden Knights have 25 matches set for the regular season in 2022, including six teams that are either ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA poll. The stiffest challenge of the year will come in mid-September, when the team travels to Michigan to face three teams ranked in the top 15 in the country in Calvin College, Hope College, and University of Northwestern (MN).

Although the height of Kurtic and Megan McEwen will be missed at middle blocker, the Golden Knights have plenty of offense in the middle and on the outside. Former Liberty League Rookie of the Year (2019) and two-time conference all-star Kristin Werdine averaged 2.80 kills per set a year ago and also chipped in 28 aces. Junior Sara Galante was on her way to an all-star caliber year as well before the campaign was shortened due to injury, as she had 2.93 kills per set through the first 13 matches of the year. Sophomore Allyson Treichel was in the conversation for Liberty League Rookie of the Year, and did end up receiving an all-star nod for her performance as she averaged 2.09 kills per set and was among the team leaders in blocks with 32.

Running the offense again is senior Isabelle Crow, a two-time conference all-star and an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention in 2021. Crow led Clarkson's offense with 9.94 assists per set while also chipping in 33 aces and 25 total blocks. Only one setter in program history has averaged more assists per set (9.330) over a career, and with another standout year, Crow could take the top spot on Clarkson's all-time leaderboard.

The back row sees the return of three strong defensive specialists in AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and Liberty League All-Star Emma Baxter, as well as Abigail Spector and Alexandra Bergantz. Once Baxter put on the libero jersey, she excelled in the role and averaged 5.21 digs per set. Spector also contributed 2.03 digs per set and Bergantz tossed in 2.22 digs per set. More impressively, the group also helped to keep Clarkson's serve receive at an elite level, as the Knights gained nearly a point per set in terms of aces (2.30 aps) and aces allowed (1.33 aps), easily the biggest differential in the conference.

Several other Clarkson players were playing their first collegiate season a year ago and will be looking to take a step forward in 2022. Junior Olivia Freer posted 1.72 kills per game in 58 sets while sophomore Annabella Regan saw her playing time increase as the season went on, stepping up with big matches against Ithaca College (14 kills) in the Liberty League playoffs and Stevenson University (12 kills) in the NCAA Tournament. Julia Bennett and Natalie Peacock combined for 20 kills in 2021 and Kayla Gault provided depth as a back-up setter for Crow.

The Knights brought in a well-rounded first-year class for 2022 as every position was filled for the upcoming season. Ashley Currier will be serving as a back-up setter for Crow and her sister Haley Currier adds to an already strong back row as a defensive specialist. Cecilia Velardi will also compete for time in the back row as another defensive specialist. Up front, the team will have Tess Sorel to team with Treichel as a middle hitter, and adding to the team's impressive depth on the outside are Marin Hangliter and Emma Main.



 
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Players Mentioned

Emma Baxter

#2 Emma Baxter

L/DS
5' 5"
Junior
Julia Bennett

#5 Julia Bennett

MH
6' 0"
Sophomore
Isabelle Crow

#11 Isabelle Crow

S
5' 8"
Junior
Olivia Freer

#16 Olivia Freer

OH
6' 0"
Sophomore
Sara Galante

#13 Sara Galante

OH
5' 10"
Sophomore
Gillian Kurtic

#14 Gillian Kurtic

MH/RS
6' 3"
Graduate Student
Megan McEwen

#10 Megan McEwen

MH
6' 3"
Senior
Natalie Peacock

#8 Natalie Peacock

MH/RS
5' 10"
Sophomore
Kristin Werdine

#12 Kristin Werdine

OH
5' 8"
Junior
Annabella Regan

#4 Annabella Regan

OH
5' 11"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Emma Baxter

#2 Emma Baxter

5' 5"
Junior
L/DS
Julia Bennett

#5 Julia Bennett

6' 0"
Sophomore
MH
Isabelle Crow

#11 Isabelle Crow

5' 8"
Junior
S
Olivia Freer

#16 Olivia Freer

6' 0"
Sophomore
OH
Sara Galante

#13 Sara Galante

5' 10"
Sophomore
OH
Gillian Kurtic

#14 Gillian Kurtic

6' 3"
Graduate Student
MH/RS
Megan McEwen

#10 Megan McEwen

6' 3"
Senior
MH
Natalie Peacock

#8 Natalie Peacock

5' 10"
Sophomore
MH/RS
Kristin Werdine

#12 Kristin Werdine

5' 8"
Junior
OH
Annabella Regan

#4 Annabella Regan

5' 11"
Freshman
OH